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COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 


Avery  Library 


VENTILATION 


WARMING  OF  BUILDINGS 


UPON  THE  PRINCIPLES  AS  DESIGNED  AND  PATENTED 


HON.  HENRY  RUTTAN, 


IMPROVED  AND  PATENTED  BY 


B.  R.  HAWLEY  ancl  ISAAC  D.  SMEAD. 


Now  owned  and  controlled  (under  13  patents), 


Ruttan-Smead  Heating  and  Ventilating  Company, 

TOLEDO,  OHIO. 

Ruttan-Smead  Warming  and  Ventilating  Co., 

ELMIRA,  NEW  YORK. 

(SOHTHCOTT  a STINE,  NEW  YORK  AND  NEW  ENGLAND). 

Ruttan-Smead  Warming  and  Ventilating  Co., 

ELMIRA,  NEW  YORK. 

SMEAD,  WILLS  A CO.,  PENN.,  NEW  JERSEY  AND  DELAWARE. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Company, 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 

Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Company, 

KANSAS  CITY,  MO. 


Successors  to  the  firm  of  IV.  A.  Pennell  & Co.,  Normal,  HI.,  original  proprietors  of  the  Ruttan 
System  of  Ventilation,  for  the  United  States. 


Copyrighted,  1SS3.  by  Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co.,  Toledo,  Ohio. 


NOTICE. — The  only  parties  in  the  United  States  in  any  way  interested  in 
the  “Ruttan  System”  of  warming  and  ventilating,  or  in  any  improve- 
ments on  the  same,  are  the  firms  whose  names  appear  below,  and 
any  others  representing  to  introduce  the  “Ruttan”  or  “ Ruttan- 
Smead,”  are  imitators,  and  we  caution  the  public  against  them. 


RUTTAN  VENTILATING  AND  HEATING  ASSOCIATION 

OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 

CHICAGO,  KANSAS  CITY,  TOLEDO,  ELMIRA. 

ISAAC  D.  SMEAD.  OTIS  JONES,  E.  C.  CONDIT, 

President.  Secretary.  Treasurer. 

S.  D.  FISHER,  S.  L.  BAILEY, 

Consulting  Engineers. 


Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 


Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Co.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

(e.  C.  CONDIT  & CO.,  PROPRIETORS.) 

Ruttan-Smead  Heating  and  Ventilating  Co.,  Toledo,  Ohio. 

(ISAAC  D.  SMEAD  & CO.,  PROPRIETORS.) 


Ruttan-Smead  Warming  and  Ventilating  Co.,  Elmira,  N.  Y. 

NORTItCOTT  A STINE,  PROPRIETORS  FOR  NEW  YORK  A NEW  ENGLAND. 
SMEAD,  WILLS  A CO.,  PROPRIETORS  FOR  PENN.,  NEW  JERSEY  A DELAWARE. 


Shepap.d  & Johnston,  Printep.s,  140-146  Monroe  St.,  Chicago. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Buildings  Warmed  by  Ruttan-Smead  Appa- 


ratus   87  to  109 

Cost  of  Warming  School  Buildings  (Cost  of 

Fuel) 57 

Care  Given  to  Warming  Apparatus  ...  9 

Cast-Iron  Furnaces 6,  20  and  122 

Church  Warming 119-120 

Duties  of  an  Engineer  ....  14,  15,  and  10 

Engineering,  etc 13 

Explanation  of  Lithographs 31 

Explanation  of  Wood  Cuts 19 


Furnaces  — Construction  of  Buildings,  etc.  13 

Floor  Construction 77 

How  to  Select  a Warming  and  Ventilating 


Apparatus 28 

Hot-Air  Furnaces — How  Made  and  How  Sold  5 

Hot-Air  Furnaces — A Few  Samples  . . . 58-59 

Reports  — Boards  of  Education  of  — 

Toledo,  Ohio 17,  19.  23,  24-54 

Washington,  D.  C 117 

Denver,  Colo 115-116 

Bowling  Green,  Ohio 50-51 

Aurora,  Ili 105  and  121 

Albany,  N.  Y 52 

St.  Joseph,  Mo 53 

East  Saginaw,  Mich 53 

Islip,  Long  Island 56 


(There  are  also  references  to  more  than  one  hundred  others.) 
Relation  of  Architects  to  the  Question  of 


Warming  Buildings 11,  16-17 

Ruttan  System  (Its  History) 3 

Ruttan  Heating  and  Ventilating  Co.  . . 6-7 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co 7 


Ruttan-Smead  Warming  and  Ventilating  Co.  7-8 
Ruttan-Smead  Heating  and  Ventilating  Co.  7 


PAGE 


Ruttan’s  Publication  (Extracts  from)  . . 35 

Ruttan-Smead  System  vs.  Steam  Heating  . . 30 

Reliability  of  Reports  or  Statements  Con- 
cerning Any  System 9-10 


Smead’s  System  of  Continuous  Ventilation  21,  75-76 


Smead’s  System  of  Dry  Closets,  22,  23,  24,  25, 

26,  27,  28,  29,  71-72 
Smead’s  School-Room  Heater  . 81,  83,  84  and  121 

Smead’s  System  of  School  House  Construction  85-86 

Steam  Warming 30  and  43 

Sewall  on  Ventilation 41 

Stove  and  Furnace  Gases 122 


South  Street  (Toledo)  School  Building,  19, 

67,  68,  69,  70,  71,  72,  73,  74,  75,  76-77 

Testimonials  . . 109  to  122 

Ventilation  — 


First  Attempt  of  Ruttan  in  United 

States 

3 

Result 

3 

What  Ventilation  is  .... 

38 

Ventilation  of  a School  Room 

3S 

Ventilation  of  a Railroad  Car  . 

39 

Physiology  of  Respiration 

42 

Heat  and  Ventilation  .... 

42 

Our  Senses 

30 

Weight  of  Man 

46 

Wisconsin  Board  of  Health  , 

Why  Ruttan’s  Tubular  Air  Warmer  is 

Neces- 

48 

SARY 

Wrought-Iron  Furnaces,  and  Resi 

LT  OF 

4-5 

Experiments 

6 and  122 

Wrougiit-Iron  vs.  Cast-Iron  . 

122 

Why  the  Ruttan-Smead  Apparatus  is  the 

Best 13  and  20 

Why  There  are  So  Many  Failures  ....  11 

Youngstown  Board  of  Education  . . 18,  7S,  79-80 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/warmingventilatiOOsmea 


HISTORY  OF  THE  RUTTAN-SMEAD  SYSTEM 

OF 

WARMING  AND  VENTILATION. 


BY  ISAAC  D.  SMEAD, 

WARMING  AND  VENTILATING  ENGINEER. 


IN  1862,  the  lion.  Henry  Rattan,  of  Coburg,  Canada,  after  many  years  of  patient  experimenting 
and  after  reading  almost  everything  that  had  been  printed  upon  the  question  of  warming 
and  ventilation,  published  a large  volume  upon  the  subject,  illustrating  his  theories  by  a 
number  of  diagrams. 

In  IS66,  a copy  of  Mr.  Rattan’s  book  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  B.  R.  Hawley,  of  Normal, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Hawley  was  favorably  impressed  with  the  arguments  therein  contained,  and  at  once 
determined  to  build  a residence  for  himself  and  to  introduce  Mr.  Rattan’s  system  of  ventilation. 
After  considerable  correspondence,  Mr.  Rattan,  who  was  at  that  time  nearly  eighty  years  of  age, 
came  to  Illinois  from  Canada,  and  Mr.  Hawley,  acting  upon  such  suggestions  as  he  made,  con- 
structed his  residence  for  the  system  ; and  this  was  the  first  building  in  the  United  States  in  which 
the  Ruttan  system  was  ever  used. 

Mr.  Hawley  and  his  friends,  who  had  become  interested  in  reading  Mr.  Rattan’s  book,  were 
very  much  surprised  to  learn  that  this  residence  was  the  first  that  had  ever  been  built  in  accord- 
ance with  Mr.  Ruttan’s  ideas.  Mr.  Ruttan  had  secured  some  patents  in  Canada  and  in  the  United 
States  on  his  system  of  construction,  and  also  had  patented  some  ventilating  stoves  for  use  in 
small  rooms  and  school  buildings,  but  he  had  never  had  any  experience  in  the  business  of 
warming  and  ventilating  except  from  his  experiments  in  a small  way  with  these  small  heaters, 
and  also  some  work  in  the  direction  of  ventilating  railroad  cars. 

The  system  as  applied  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  Hawley  was  a failure,  as  was  also  the  heating 
apparatus  provided. 

Mr.  Hawley  experimented  with  the  apparatus  in  his  residence  for  some  time,  making  many 
changes,  and  with  considerable  success  ; and  he  finally  became  agent  in  the  United  States  for  the 
sale  of  Mr.  Ruttan’s  stoves.  The  demand  for  them  was  limited,  as  they  would  only  burn  wood, 
while,  especially  in  the  West,  the  natural  fuel  was  soft  or  bituminous  coal. 

At  this  date  ( 1866)  but  little  had  been  attempted  by  anyone  toward  improving  the  sanitary 
condition  of  our  buildings  ; there  were  a few  who,  like  Mr.  Ruttan,  had  theories,  but  nowhere 
could  be  found  a sanitary  engineer  who  had  practical  experience / who  could  examine  a building 
or  a plan  of  a building,  and  say  just  what  ought  to  be  done  to  make  it  breathe  and  at  the  same 
time  comfortably  warm  in  the  winter.  Doctors  had  theories,  architects  had  theories,  writers  were 
writing  about  what  was  not  done,  a few  scientific  books  were  before  the  public,  but  with  the 
exception  of  Mr.  Ruttan’s  they  were  so  very  scientific  that  they  were  of  little  use  to  the  average 
reader  : one  would  refer  to  the  climate  in  England,  and  another  to  that  in  France,  but  as  America 
had  more  climate  than  either  (if  I may  be  permitted  to  use  the  expression),  Ave  did  not  know  what 
to  do,  and  so  hundreds  and  thousands  of  buildings  were  erected  eA’ery  year  with  no  effort  whatever 

3 


4 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


being  made  to  ventilate  them  ; our  residences,  schools  and  churches  were  made  as  tight  as 
possible,  and  generally  if  flues  were  built  to  take  air  into  them,  none  were  built  to  take  air  out;  or 
if  ventilating  flues  were  built  to  take  air  out , none  were  provided  to  take  any  in.  If  the  school 
children  were  sick  and  died,  the  friends  called  it  a “Dispensation  of  Providence,”  closed  the 
school  for  a day  to  permit  the  others  to  attend  the  funeral,  and  then  they  were  boxed  up  again 
in  the  same  school  room.  If  they  came  home  with  a headache,  kind  friends  said  that  they  were 
studying  too  hard  ; and  most  children  were  pleased  with  the  statement,  accompanied  by  a few 
days’  vacation.  This  was  the  condition  of  affairs  all  over  the  country. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Hawley  associated  with  himself  two  other  gentlemen,  Mr.  W.  A.  Pennell,  of 
Normal,  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Lemuel  Grover,  of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  together  they  commenced 
to  improve  Mr.  Ruttan’s  system  of  construction,  for  it  must  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Ruttan,  like 
all  others,  had  only  a theory ; his  entire  publication  was  an  argument  in  favor  of  constructing 
with  a building,  large,  cold  and  warm  air  flues  to  take  air  into  the  house,  and  large  flues  to  take  air 
out  of  the  house  ; and  that  all  exits  for  foul  air  should  be  made  at  the  bottom  of  the  room  instead 
of  at  the  top,  as  was  then  the  custom,  and  each  room  be  supplied  with  warm  air  from  a central 
chamber,  as,  for  instance,  the  corridor  of  the  building.  He  did  not  seem  to  be  at  all  familiar 
with  the  construction  of  large  buildings  or  he  would  easily  have  understood  that  his  methods 
would  not  be  at  all  practical  in,  for  instance,  a school  building  of  two  or  more  stories. 

Many  readers  of  this  who  have  become  familiar  with  the  much  talked  of  “Ruttan  System” 
will  be  surprised  to  learn  that,  with  the  exception  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Hawley,  Mr.  Ruttan 
never  had  anything  to  do  with  the  warming  of  a building  containing  more  than  one  story , and 
that  he  says  in  his  book  that  he  does  “ not  really  know  how  to  ventilate  the  second  story  of  a 
residence .” 

This  was  the  condition  of  the  system  when  Messrs.  W.  A.  Pennell  & Co.,  with  office  at 
Normal,  Illinois,  commenced  their  work.  All  they  had  to  guide  them  was  a few  theories 
advanced  by  Ruttan,  and  no  member  of  the  firm  had  ever  had  an  hour’s  experience  in  the  busi- 
ness of  warming,  ventilating,  architecture  or  building;  and  only  one  of  them  experience  in 
manufacturing,  one  of  the  other  two  being  a retired  merchant,  and  the  third  a sanguine,  imprac- 
tical inventor.  The  firm  purchased  from  Mr.  Ruttan  such  patents  as  he  had,  a few  stove  patterns 
and  the  right  to  use  his  name.  Their  idea  being  to  furnish  plans  and  specifications  and  collect  a 
royalty  for  the  use  of  the  patents.  It  was  not  their  intention  to  manufacture  a heating  apparatus 
of  any  kind , except  perhaps  the  ventilating  stoves. 

Greater  experience,  or  as  it  now  seems  the  exercise  of  a little  more  common  sense,  would 
have  shown  them  that  if  large  cold  air  conduits  were  provided  to  take  the  air  into  a building,  and 
large  ventilating  stacks  were  erected  to  take  the  air  out  of  a building  that  large  heating  surface 
must  be  provided  to  warm  the  air  before  passing  into  the  rooms.  But  this  important  point  the 
very  key-note  of  the  success  of  the  system  as  now — 1885 — introduced  was  overlooked,  and  as  a 
result,  in  every  instance  where  their  plans  were  followed  they  were  pronounced  a failure,  and  those 
originally  opposed  were  pleased,  their  customers  displeased  and  the  firm  caused  embarrassment 
and  loss.  At  that  date  (1866)  there  were  six  methods  of  warming  in  use,  namely,  the  open  fire- 
place, stoves,  hot  air  furnaces,  steam  and  warm  water.  Manufacturers  of  all  these  appliances 
were  very  happy  because  the  “new  system”  had  so  completely  failed  to  meet  the  guarantees  of 
the  somewhat  visionary  owners  and  advertisers.  But  with  firm  faith  in  the  correctness  of  some 
of  the  principles  argued  for  by  Mr.  Ruttan,  the  company  acknowledged  their  defeat  and  com- 
menced again.  At  that  time  all,  or  nearly  all,  the  heating  appliances  used  were  manufactured  in 
the  East  and  all  made  to  consume  hard  coal  or  wood  ; very  little  attention  having  ever  been 
given  to  the  consumption  of  soft  coal,  the  natural  fuel  of  the  West. 

Great  effort  was  made  by  Pennell  & Co.  to  find  some  apparatus  that  had  sufficient  amount  of 
fire  surface  to  warm  the  volume  of  air  required  ; the  search  was  unsuccessful  and  they  deter- 
mined to  build  an  Air  Warmer  to  meet  the  new  demand.  The  situation  is  well  illustrated  in  the 
experience  of  those  who  first  used  steam  as  a power  ; previous  to  that  date  a common  kettle  was 
sufficient  to  boil  all  the  water  required,  but  as  soon  as  steam  was  wanted  in  large  quantities,  and 


XORTHCOTT  cV  STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


quickly,  the  kettle  would  not  answer ; a new  and  better  apparatus  was  needed  and  must  be  pro- 
vided, and  as  “necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,”  the  inventive  genius  of  the  age  gave  to  the 
world  the  tubular  boiler.  This  could  furnish  more  steam  simply  because  it  presented  to  the 
water  to  be  boiled  more  fire  surface  to  warm  it.  This  is  the  secret  and  one  easy  to  comprehend 
now  ; but  if  the  reader  knew  the  history  of  its  growth  and  the  trials  of  the  inventors  and  the 
manufacturers,  he  would  learn  a story  that  he  would  not  soon  forget.  All  furnaces  were  as 
valuable  for  the  purpose  required  by  Pennell  & Co.,  as  was  the  old  kettle  to  the  steam-power 
men,  and  the  fact  was  a plain  one  that  a new  warming  apparatus  must  be  made,  but  how  to  make 
it,  or  of  what  size  it  should  be,  or  what  material  should  be  used,  who  could  tell  them  ? The 
books  could  not;  no  two  theorists  could  agree  ; the  manufacturers  were  busy  doing  all  in  their 
power  to  advertise  the  fact  that  Mr.  Ruttan’s  theory  was  wrong  and  that  Pennell  & Co.  were  a 
set  of  “ cranks,”  and  that  the  large  ventilating  flues  (not  very  handsome  as  built  then,  and  in 
some  cases  too  large,  I will  admit)  were  “ factory  stacks,”  “ cold  air  ducts  too  large,”  etc.,  etc., 

It  was  very  clear  to  Pennell  & Co.  that  they  must  either  abandon  the  entire  business  or  make 
an  apparatus  in  which  they  could  use  either  soft  coal  or  wood,  and  that  had  a heating  capacity 
sufficient  to  warm  the  volume  of  air  required.  They  determined  to  do  the  latter,  but  could  they 
have  foreseen  the  losses,  the  defeats,  the  large  amount  of  money  required,  the  many  years  of  hard 
work  before  they  should  meet  with  any  degree  of  success,  the  reader  may  be  assured  that  they 
would  never  have  commenced,  and  that  the  millions  of  pounds  of  iron  now  manufactured  yearly 
by  the  Ruttan  Warming  and  Ventilation  Association  into  Ruttan-Smead  Heating  and  Ventilat- 
ing Apparatus  would  be  made  into  some  other  kind  of  goods,  and  the  large  force  of  men 
employed  in  their  manufacture  would  be  obliged  to  seek  employment  in  some  other  field  of  labor. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  this  firm  had  little  to  guide  them,  and  could  not  copy , as  most  other 
manufacturers  do. 

As  an  example  of  this  habit  of  copying,  we  represent  on  other  pages  (pages  58  and  59)  a large 
number  of  furnaces  of  different  makes.  It  will  be  seen  at  a glance  that  they  are  all  substantially 
the  same , namely,  a firepot  and  a dome,  and  if  space  would  permit  I could  add  a hundred  more , 
and  the  comparison  woidd  he  unchanged. 

One  manufacturer  calls  his  a “ Fire  King,”  another  “The  Commander”;  “Prairie  Queen” 
is  the  name  of  a third,  and  “Peacemaker”  is  also  on  the  list. 

It  always  seemed  to  the  writer  that  the  name  of  a heating  apparatus,  or  of  any  other  ma- 
chine, should,  to  some  extent  at  least,  explain  the  style  or  object  of  the  designer  ; otherwise  it 
would  be  as  well  to  name  them  “Hannah,”  “Jane,”  or  “Maria,”  “Tom,”  “ Hick”  or  “Harry.” 

Messrs.  Pennell  & Co.  were  the  first  who  were  forced  to  make  a heating  apparatus  ; all  others 
were  then  and  arc  now  made  by  stove  manufacturers  simply  as  an  incident  to  their  general  trade , 
or  in  machine  shops,  as  a minor  part  of  their  trade  / they  were  sold  to  hardware  dealers,  stove 
dealers,  or  to  any  one  who  wished  to  buy.  They  were  placed  in  cellars,  and  generally  failed  to 
warm  the  building  over  them  ; and  as  a result  there  was  a wide-spread  dissatisfaction,  and 
“furnace  men”  were  really  considered  “an  evil,”  not  at  all  “necessary,”  and  to  a very  consider- 
able extent  the  work  done  at  this  date  is  no  better  than  the  work  done  by  the  “hot  air”  furnace 
dealers  of  twenty  years  ago.  As  a general  thing,  the  only  interest  the  salesman  has  in  the  con- 
tract is  the  commission  he  gets  for  making  the  sale.  I know  of  many  localities  where  the 
‘ furnace  man,”  the  “ lightning-rod  man,”  and  the  “book  agent”  are  all  placed  in  the  same  class, 
and  when  I examined  the  work  that  some  of  them  do  I am  not  surprised  at  the  classification. 
Pennell  tfc  Co.  had  advertised  this  system  of  construction  as  one  that  would  insure  ventilation,  and 
had  unwisely  attached  themselves  to  the  furnace  fraternity  by  using,  in  connection  therewith, 
about  all  the  kinds  of  furnaces  made,  and,  as  before  stated,  had  almost  entirely  failed  ; they  saw 
that  neither  the  “Fire  King”  nor  the  “Hot  Blast”  would  be  a “ Peacemaker ” between  their 
customers  and  themselves,  and  that  the  “Prairie  Queen”  would  never  become  a ruler  ; that  they 
must  have  an  “Air  Warmer,”  some  sort  of  an  apparatus  that  would  take  a large  volume  of  cold 
air  and  warm  it,  while  all  others,  owing  to  the  lack  of  fire  surface,  could  only  take  a small  volume 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


6 

and  heat  it  very  hot,  converting  into  cinder  all  the  dust  and  organic  matter  the  air  contained,  and 
rendering  it  unfit  for  breathing. 

I have  referred  to  the  warming  of  water  for  the  generation  of  steam  and  to  the  tubular 
boiler  as  compared  with  a kettle  ; the  reason  why  the  boiler  will  warm  more  water  is  because  of 
its  greater  amount  of  fire  surface.  Pennell  A Co.  determined  to  make  an  air  warmer  that  should, 
to  some  extent,  duplicate  the  boiler  or  water  warmer , and  selected  wrought  iron  as  the  material  to 
be  used.  The  sanguine  member  could  see  “ millions  ” in  the  idea  while  the  plan  was  on 
paper,  and  much  against  the  wishes  of  his  partners,  ordered  nearly  a hundred  to  be  made,  costing 
many  thousand  dollars. 

Unfortunately,  the  first  one  finished  was  sold  to  a party  who  used  wood  for  fuel,  and,  like 
the  old  fashioned  sheet-iron  stove,  the  furnace  was  soon  ready  for  “business,”  and  could  quickly 
furnish  a very  large  volume  of  warm  air.  They  immediately  put  about  sixty  into  schools 
buildings,  churches  and  residences,  in  the  states  of  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Michigan,  and  at  least  nine 
out  of  ten  were  required  to  burn  coal  (bituminous).  Of  course  no  fires  were  built  until  fall,  and 
then  the  reader  can  be  assured  that  “ trouble  commenced.”  Pennell  & Co.  had  guaranteed  the 
warming  and  ventilating,  and  of  course  there  was  an  implied  guarantee  at  least  as  to  durability. 
Many  of  the  air  warmers  did  not  last  a month  ; they  seemed  to  tire  of  life,  and  would  sit  right 
down  with  a terribly  discouraged  appearance,  and  it  did  almost  discourage  the  firm,  and  the  cus- 
tomers were  not  only  discouraged,  but  mad  j schools  were  dismissed  because  of  cold  school 
rooms,  sermons  were  half  preached  and  to  small  congregations;  church  and  school  trustees  seemed 
to  spend  about  half  their  time  either  in  sending  telegrams  or  writing  letters  to  the  firm  that  had 
sold  them  such  a short-lived  apparatus,  while  owners  of  residences  bought  a few  stoves  and  cau- 
tioned their  neighbors  against  buying  any  kind  of  a heating  apparatus  except  stoves.  Manufac- 
turers of  the  steam  appliances  and  the  old  hot  air  furnaces  were  happy  of  course,  for  occasion- 
ally a furnace  would  (and  generally  by  accident),  be  so  set  that  it  did  warm  the  rooms,  even 
if  it  did  not  ventilate  them,  and  their  owners  praised  them,  as  they  would  rather  be  poi- 
soned a little  and  be  warm  than  to  be  frozen  trying  to  keep  the  bad  air  from  the  rooms.  It 
is  easily  seen  that  this  Avas  a terrible  back-set  to  the  Ruttan  system,  and  a great  loss  to  its 
owners  as  well  as  a humiliation  to  its  friends.  Two  things,  however,  had  been  demonstrated  : 
1st.  That  there  Avas  a system  of  construction  to  secure  ventilation  that  could  be  relied  upon  ; 
2nd.  That  a machine  or  air  warmer  could  be  designed  that  would  warm  the  volume  of  air  required. 
The  Avork  nqAV  before  them  Avas  to  make  the  apparatus  durable,  and  to  so  construct  it  that  soft  coal 
might  be  used.  The  sanguine  member  of  the  firm  retired  ; the  one  best  posted  in  mechanical 
matters  commenced  the  manufacture  of  patterns  for  a cast-iron  air-warmer.  After  months  of 
work,  and  the  expenditure  of  a large  sum  of  money,  three  sizes  were  ready  for  use.  A heating 
apparatus  cannot  be  thoroughly  tested  except  in  cold  weather,  and  the  winter  Avas  looked  forward 
to  Avith  no  little  anxiety.  Upon  trial  it  AA’as  found  that  although  the  cast-iron  furnaces  were  more 
durable  than  the  wrought-iron  ones,  there  Avas  a new  trouble  to  contend  with,  namely,  the  smoke 
and  gas  from  the  soft  coal  rendered  them  about  as  much  of  a nuisance  as  Avere  the  old  wrought 
heaters,  and  thus  another  Avinter  Avas  lost  and  the  Ruttan  system  Avas  still  almost  a failure.  Of 
course,  to  its  friends,  the  defects  were  not  so  great  that  they  did  not  expect  to  overcome  them. 
Another  assessment  Avas  made,  new  patterns  Avere  manufactured,  and  in  the  spring  of  1869  the 
firm  commenced  to  do  their  first  good  work;  the  winter  of  1869-70  rvas  the  first  since  the  intro- 
duction of  their  system  that  they  could  point  to  a single  job  of  warming  and  A'entilating  that  had 
been  entirely"  satisfactory,  either  to  the  customer  or  to  the  owners  and  friends  of  the  system. 
But  Avith  the  reputation  the  previous  Avinters  had  given  there  Avas  little  to  hope  for  ; other  firms 
had  not  neglected  to  advertise  our  failure  ; as  to  the  success  of  the  Avinter  just  passed  they 
claimed  that  the  Avork  Avould  not  stand  the  test  of  time,  and  to  some  extent  their  statements 
Avere  true.  Considerable  work  Avas  done  during  the  years  of  1870-71,  and  in  May,  1872,  a new 
firm  Avas  organized  : The  Ruttan  Heating  and  Ventilating  Company  of  Bloomington,  Illinois  ; 
W.  A.  Pennell,  President ; Isaac  D.  Smead,  Secretary,  and  S.  D.  Fisher,  Superintendent  ; Messrs. 
Pennell  and  Smead  had  been  connected  with  the  business  from  the  first,  the  latter  as  an  office 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


employe.  The  company  at  once  commenced  to  push  the  system  with  all  the  ability  they  pos- 
sessed ; several  thousand  dollars  were  expended  to  improve  old  patterns  and  to  make  new  ones. 
For  five  years  the  company  expended  almost  every  dollar  of  the  earnings  in  developing,  adver- 
tising and  extending  the  business  ; several  hundred  buildings  were  provided  with  a system  of 
warming  and  ventilating  that  was,  without  doubt  (and  I say  this  without  the  least  feeling  of 
egotism),  the  best  on  earth  at  that  time ; hundreds  and  thousands  of  friends  were  made  ; steam 
heating  apparatus , hot  air  f urnaces , and  stoves  were  removed  bg  the  score  and  ours  introduced. 
Such  was  our  opportunity  to  experiment,  as  our  work  was  scattered  over  a half-dozen  states 
(although  confined  mostly  to  public  buildings)  that  we  learned  about  all  the  requirements  of  a 
successful  apparatus,  and  how  it  should  be  introduced.  At  the  end  of  four  years  scarcely  a pattern 
remained  that  was  in  use  when  the  firm  was  organized  in  1872.  The  question  of  fire  surface , of 
durability , of  size  and  location,  of  warm  and  cold  air  flues,  had  been  settled,  and  in  fact  almost 
everything  had  been  settled  except  the  payment  to  the  firm  of  the  large  amount  of  money  they  had 
invested.  The  “times”  had  been  growing  “harder”  for  years,  and  yet,  but  for  an  unfortunate 
investment  in  several  thousand  dollars’  worth  of  poor  iron  the  company  would  have  pulled 
through  their  financial  troubles  ; but  in  the  spring  of  1877  they  were  forced  to  suspend,  and  it 
again  seemed  as  if  the  years  of  labor  and  toil  were  to  be  lost  completely.  Competing  firms,  or 
firms  that  had  tried  with  their  “Hot  Air  Appliances”  to  compete,  tried  to  effect  a combination 
to  control  such  patents  as  we  had,  and  also  to  secure  the  property  that  had  been  accumulated  ; 
but  friends  stepped  in,  and  a new  company  was  organized  under  the  name  of  the  “ Ruttan  Manu- 
facturing Company,”  Isaac  D.  Smead,  President ; E.  C.  Condit,  Secretary  ; S.  D.  Fisher,  Superin- 
tendent, and  Otis  Jones,  Treasurer.  Of  the  persons  mentioned,  two,  Messrs.  Fisher  and  Smead, 
were  experienced  engineers  in  the  so-called  “Ruttan  System;”  the  other  members  were  new  to 
the  business.  I say  “ So-called  Ruttan  System,”  because  all  the  work  had  been  done  under  the 
name  of  Ruttan,  although  there  was  even  at  that  date  very  little  that  Mr.  Ruttan  would  have 
recognized  as  a part  of  his  system  could  he  have  been  called  back  from  that  “ other  world.”  The 
offices  of  the  company  were  removed  to  Chicago,  and  once  more  the  business  was  started. 

After  two  years  of  business  success  in  Chicago,  a new  office  was  opened  in  Kansas  City  under 
the  name  of  the  Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Company,  with  the  firm  of  E.  C.  Condit  it  Co. 
as  proprietors.  Mr.  Condit  having  resigned  his  position  with  the  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  he 
was  succeeded  as  an  official  in  that  company  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Titus.  Two  years  later  the  territory 
was  again  subdivided  ; a new  office  being  established  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  under  the  name  of  the 
“Ruttan  Heating  and  Ventilating  Co.,  Isaac  D.  Smead  it  Co.,  Proprietors  ;”  Messrs.  Smead  and 
Titus  resigning  their  positions  in  the  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  the  former  after  almost  fifteen 
years  of  constant  service. 

In  1877  the  amount  of  iron  manufactured  into  Ruttan  apparatus  amounted  to  about  200,000 
pounds,  and  in  1884  to  over  3,000,000  pounds.  Hundreds  of  public  buildings  have  been  warmed 
and  ventilated  by  the  apparatus  manufactured  by  this  association  of  firms,  all  operating  under  the 
name  of  Ruttan  ; although  there  has  not  been  a Ruttan  patent  alive  for  years,  nor  has  there 
been  a casting  used  that  would  be  recognized  by  Mr.  Ruttan  were  he  alive.  Thousands  and 
thousands  of  dollars  have  been  expended  to  improve  the  apparatus  and  to  advertise  the  system. 

Under  the  agreements  that  bind  the  firms  together  a patent  secured  by  one,  either  by  pur- 
chase or  grant,  is  owned  by  the  other  firms  in  their  respective  territories.  It  will  be  thus  seen 
that  a customer  in  Massachusetts  purchasing  of  the  firm  to  whose  territory  that  State  belongs, 
receives  the  benefit  of  all  the  improvements  that  may  originate  in  all  the  offices  of  the  associa- 
tion, whether  Kansas  City,  Chicago,  Toledo  or  Elmira. 

In  1885,  two  more  firms  were  organized,  the  members  being  from  the  force  of  Isaac 
D.  Smead  it  Co.,  at  Toledo  ; Messrs.  Northcott  it  Stine,  and  Smead,  Wills  it  Co.,  with  offices 
at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  under  the  name  of  “ Ruttan-Smead  Warming  it  Ventilating  Co.,”  the  former 
having  as  their  territory  New  York  State  and  New  England;  the  latter  having  New  Jersey 
Pennsylvania  and  Delaware.  The  name  “Ruttan-Smead”  was  selected  by  these  parties  (and 
allowed  to  be  used  after  several  months  refusal  by  the  writer),  because  it  was  claimed  by  them 


8 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


that  the  engineering  ability  and  great  experience  of  Mr.  Smead  had  had  more  to  do  with  the 
creation  and  perfection  of  the  system  than  ever  Mr.  Rattan  had  ; and  also  because  there  were 
several  manufacturers  who  claimed,  and  still  claim,  to  furnish  “Ruttan,  or  any.  other  system 
desired  ” (a  compliment  to  their  modesty,  honesty  and  ability  !)  ; and  also  because  they  thought 
it  due  to  the  public  that  the  name  of  a live  man  be  added  to  that  of  the  originator,  who, 
were  he  alive,  would  fail  to  recognize  the  system  that  bears  his  name  as  it  is  now  applied. 

The  writer  of  this  has  been  connected  with  the  work  since  its  commencement  and  gives 
this  long  detailed  history  of  the  Ruttan  System  for  several  reasons  : 

] . That  the  readers  may  be  familiar  with  the  story  of  the  “ Ruttan  System,”  and 
understand  why  we  use  the  name  Ruttan  as  our  trade-mark,  and  may  not  be  misled  by  those 
who  formerly  ridiculed,  but  who  now  try  to  imitate  and  counterfeit  the  work  of  the  engineers  who 
for  years  labored  to  fully  understand  and  apply  the  principles  first  brought  before  the  public  by 
Henry  Ruttan  ; for  no  matter  what  theories  other  writers  may  advance,  or  how  many  there  may 
be  to  dispute  them  today,  the  principles  first  advocated  by  Mr.  Ruttan  are  the  ones  that  must 
be  followed  wherever  any  degree  of  success  is  obtained. 

2.  To  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  has  grown  up  with  this  system  a force  of  experi- 
enced sanitary  and  practical  engineers  ; men  who  have  designed,  introduced  and  guaranteed  a 
system  of  warming  and  ventilating,  and  in  many  instances  left  thousands  of  dollars  to  be 
paid  them  after  entire  winters’  trials  had  demonstrated  the  truthfulness  of  their  statements 
and  the  correctness  of  their  designs. 

3.  I wish  to  show  the  reader,  that  although  Ruttan  is  entitled  to  great  credit  for  suggesting 

o o oo  o 

a certain  system  of  construction,  that  not  he,  but  others  have  had  to  improve , develop , perfect 
and  to  advertise  and  work  for  years  to  get  before  the  public  a system  now  universally  acknowl- 
edged to  be  of  incalculable  benefit  to  more  than  one  million  school  children,  as  applied  by  us  in 
school  buildings  alone. 

4.  This  explanation  is  made  that  the  reader  may  fully  understand  why  the  system  is,  even 
now,  called  “a  failure  ” by  some  who  only  knew  of  it  in  its  infancy,  for  there  are  those  who 
never  hear  of  anything  more  than  once  ; and  there  are  still  others  who,  seeming  to  be  of  the 
opinion  that  if  they  do  not  condemn,  others  will  assume  that  they  are  not  wise  ; they  are  living 
examples  of  the  truthfulness  of  the  saying  that  “a  little  knowledge  is  a dangerous  thing.” 

5.  To  answer,  as  best  I could,  the  very  unjust,  unfair  and  incorrect  statements  of  a writer 
who  published  a book  in  1S84  upon  the  subject  of  ventilation,  and  who,  in  its  “ Table  of  Con- 
tents,” informs  the  seeker  after  light  that  he  can  learn  about  “ Ruttan’s  System  ” on  page  77;  and 
upon  examination  of  the  chapter  to  which  he  is  referred,  the  reader  will  learn  all  the  writer  of  the 
book  knows  about  a system  on  which  more  than  §100,000  had  been  expended  to  perfect,  and  of  a 
company  bearing  the  name  of  “Ruttan”  and  giving  employment  to  over  300  men,  and  in  which 
nearly  a quarter  of  a million  of  dollars  are  invested.  All  he  knows  about  it  is  expressed  in  the 
following,  which  I quote  verbatim  from  his  valuable  (7)  addition  to  the  literature  of  our  age  : 
“ I have  been  told  that  along  our  Northern  frontier  and  in  Cauada,  a number  of  private  houses 
were  built  on  this  plan  about  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago,  but  I have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any 
particulars  as  to  the  result.” 

Is  the  reader  surprised  then  that  the  writer  of  this,  who,  it  must  be  distinctly  understood, 
makes  no  claim  to  literary  ability,  after  reading  the  foregoing  abstract  from  “ — on  Venti- 

lation,” should  at  once  determine  to  tell  the  true  story  of  “The  Ruttan  System,”  and,  so  far  as 
possible,  defend  the  name  and  protect  the  interests  of  the  association  which  has  so  large  a 
pecuniary  interest  at  stake,  and  with  which  he  has  been  associated  since  boyhood  ? 

I do  not  propose  to  furnish  additional  literature  that  is  so  largely  scientific  that  the  average 
reader  cannot  comprehend  it  or  judge  as  to  whether  the  matter  presented  is  reasonably  true. 
During  the  past  fifteen  years  I have  designed  more  plans  providing  for  the  warming  and  ventilat- 
ing of  both  public  and  private  buildings  than  any  other  man  in  America,  and  contracted  to  intro- 
duce the  warming  and  ventilating  apparatus,  guaranteeing  its  successful  operation,  leaving  in  the 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


9 

hands  of  the  customers  more  than  a quarter  of  a million  of  dollars  to  be  paid  after  trial  : and 
there  has  not  been  one  dollar  in  ten  thousand  of  that  amount  that  has  not  been  paid  cheerfully. 

As  I have  been  identified  with  the  “ Ruttan  System”  since  its  first  introduction,  and  so 
closely  identified  that  by  many  it  is  now  called  the  “ Ruttan-Smead  System,”  as  I have  been 
thoroughly  familiar  with  all  kinds  of  heating  apparatus  manufactured  or  sold  during  the  past 
twenty  years,  and  been  in  more  than  two  hundred  contests  before  boards  of  education  and  other 
legislative  bodies,  where  the  closest  and  most  careful  examination  has  been  made  into  every 
detail,  and  have  been  unsuccessful  in  securing  the  contracts  in  less  than  two  per  cent  of  the  awards 
made  ; as  I have  been  granted  a large  number  of  patents  on  warming  and  ventilating  apparatus, 
and  also  patents  on  improvements  in  the  construction  of  buildings  to  secure  better  ventilation  ; 
as  I have  worked  in  every  department  of  the  business,  from  the  setting  of  the  apparatus  in  the 
basements  of  the  buildings  to  the  managing  of  the  offices  with  which  I have  been  connected, 
(Bloomington,  Chicago  and  Toledo)  and  by  a unanimous  vote  made  the  chief  executive  officer  of 
the  Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Association  ; as  I have  executed  contract  after  contract  for 
years  in  succession  for  the  same  executive  bodies,  as  for  instance  for  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Toledo,  sixteen  school  buildings,  fourteen  school  buildings  for  the  District  Commissioners  of 
Washington,  D.  C.,  three  state  normal  school  buildings  for  the  State  Board  of  Regents  of  Wis- 
consin, four  school  buildings  for  the  School  Board  of  Youngstown,  O.,  and  a score  of  other 
similar  cases  I could  mention,  and  among  them  several  of  the  largest,  in  the  line  of  furnace  con- 
tracts, by  many  thousand  dollars,  of  any  ever  awarded  in  America  (and  never  because  I was 
merely  the  lowest  bidder)  but  onty  after  investigations,  lasting  in  some  cases  for  months,  by 
careful,  honest  and  competent  officers  who  were  trusted  by  their  fellow  citizens  to  attend  to  the 
construction  of  their  public  buildings;  in  view  of  those  and  many  other  facts  of  a similar  nature, 
and,  as  before  stated,  in  defense  of  the  truth  and  the  interests  involved,  I have  decided,  to  the 
extent  of  my  ability,  to  present  on  the  pages  of  this  book,  which  to  no  inconsiderable  extent  is 
published  to  advertise  our  business,  th e plain  facts  concerning  the  warming  and  ventilating  of  the 
buildings,  especially  those  in  which  we  confine  our  school  children  during  the  years  which  they 
attend  school — I assume  that  possibly  I can  interest  if  I cannot  instruct. 

I shall  present  for  the  consideration  of  the  reader,  various  reports  of  committees  who  have 
investigated  and  expressed  their  conclusions.  There  are  a few  points,  however,  to  which  I wish 
to  call  attention,  and  these  are,  that  these  reports  refer  to  buildings  examined  by  those  who  were 
unprejudiced  and  who  desired  to  state  the  facts,  and  who  were  in  no  way  interested  in  furnishing 
a testimonial  to  the  manufacturer.  Take,  as  an  illustration  of  this,  the  East  Saginaw  report  on 
page  53.  This  report  was  made  by  a committee  who,  when  appointed,  were  prejudiced  against 
furnaces  of  any  kind,  and  also  much  dissatisfied  with  steam  warming  apparatus  as  introduced  in 
their  schools,  and  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  secure  the  best,  if  it  was  possible  for  them  to 
find  it. 

There  is  no  warming  and  ventilating  apparatus  with  which  I am  familiar  that  has  “brains  ;” 
I have  never  seen  one  that  will  run  alone  ; they  all  require  care  and  fuel.  It  often  happens  that 
after  a committee  has  taken  great  pains  to  secure  the  best  apparatus  and  to  get  it  properly  intro- 
duced and  properly  cared  for  during  their  term  of  office,  their  successors  come  in  “ for 
political  reasons,”  knowing  little  of  what  has  been  done  by  their  faithful  predecessors,  and  often 
caring  less.  This  is  especially  true  in  the  larger  cities  wherewith  “an  indifference  born  of 
political  life,”  some  good  worker  who,  during  election  campaign,  has  done  valuable  service,  as 
a reward  is  given  a position  as  janitor,  although,  possibly,  he  has  never  seen  a furnace  in  operation 
until  he  builds  the  first  fire  in  the  apparatus  he  is  employed  to  run.  What  master  mechanic 
would  employ  an  engineer  who  had  never  had  experience  on  a locomotive  ? Who  would  employ 
a doctor  that  had  never  studied  medicine  ? Who  would  engage  the  services  of  an  attorney  that 
had  never  opened  a law  book  ? Yet  every  year,  warming  and  ventilating  apparatus  costing 
thousands  of  dollars  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  men  entirely  without  experience  or  interest  in  its 
care.  This  is  one  of  the  most  discouraging  features  of  the  entire  business.  I have  gone  into 


10 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


basements  containing  apparatus  for  which  we  had  been  paid  thousands  of  dollars,  climbed  over 
piles  of  ashes  dumped  wherever  most  convenient,  finding  cold  air  ducts  closed , that  should  always, 
during  occupancy  of  building,  be  open,  found  the  apparatus  in  the  hands  of  an  ignorant,  lazy 
fellow,  who  had  been  employed  by  the  board,  sometimes  because  he  was  “a  cousin”  or  “an 
uncle  ”of  some  one,  or  simply  because  he  could  secure  employment  from  no  other  parties.  Can 
any  one  wonder  because  an  apparatus  should  fail  under  such  management.  The  men  who,  in  their 
capacities  as  trustees,  employ  him  to  care  for  public  property  costing  thousands  would  not  trust 
him  with  the  care  of  a hundred  dollar  horse — -if  the  horse  were  their  own.  And  it  is  for  this 
reason  that  I wish  to  call  attention  to  the  fact,  that  it  is  not  always  just  or  fair  to  wholly  depend 
on  what  may  be  said  concerning  an  apparatus  unless  it  is  known  that  the  parties  expressing  opin- 
ions are  competent  to  judge  and  are  familiar  with  the  facts*  Some  people  always  want  what  they 
do  not  have  ; if  they  have  a Singer  sewing  machine  they  want  a Wheeler  & Wilson.  Why,  they 
cannot  tell.  Some  farmers  who  own  a Buckeye  reaper  want  a McCormick.  Why,  they  do  not 
know  ; they  simply  want  it,  and  do  not  know  enough  about  either  to  name  a half  dozen  of  the 
many  castings  that  are  required  to  make  the  machine.  I mention  these  illustrations  to  call  atten- 
tion to  the  necessity  of  a careful  examination  and  investigation  of  the  merits  of  the  claims  made 
by  each  manufacturer,  and  a comparison  of  the  principles  involved,  for  if  they  are  true  and  cor- 
rectly applied  they  are  right,  no  matter  what  any  one  may  say  about  them. 

All  the  claims  made  for  the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of  warming  and  ventilating  are  very  easily 
understood  if  carefully  examined  ; and  yet  there  are  some  who  are  ready  to  condemn  simply 
because  they  are  too  lazy  to  investigate,  or  for  the  reason  that  they  are  interested  in  some  other 
apparatus  or  experiment.  I have  met  principals  of  schools  who  did  not  know  whether  their 
buildings  were  warmed  by  furnaces  or  steam  apparatus;  “guessed  neither  were  used,  only  reg- 
isters ; ” and  others  who,  when  I complained  of  the  lack  of  cleanliness  in  the  basement,  remarked 
that  they  were  “teachers,  not  janitors,”  and  that  they  had  “ never  been  in  the  basement;”  and 
“ were  not  paid  for  giving  attention  to  janitor’s  duties  ; ” and  yet  at  some  “ Teacher’s  Association  ” 
they  would  read  a long  essay  upon  some  wild  theory  which  the  press  may  copy,  and  the  people 
may  call  its  author  wise.  They  look  pale  and  complain  of  “ overwork,”  and  try  to  look  “all 
worn  out,”  and  unlike  the  hard  worked  business  man  of  fifty-two  weeks  per  year,  must  have  a 
vacation — about  three  months  out  of  every  twelve.  What  a rest  that  would  give  some  of  us 
who  are  engaged  in  business  ! A rest,  I fear,  a healthy  condition  of  our  bank  accounts  would 
not  permit. 

The  reports  from  which  I quote  do  not  furnish  any  literature  from  these  poor  “overworked,” 
“tired  out”  chronic  grumblers. 

These  reports  herein  contained  are  written  by  live  men / men  who  will  never  be  “tired” 
until  they  are  through  with  life’s  work  ; and  the  world  is  now  and  will  always  be  much  better 
for  their  having  been  in  it.  For  I honestly  believe  that  those  who  aid  in  the  improvement  of  the 
sanitary  condition  of  our  buildings  are,  and  to  no  small  extent,  public  benefactors. 

*See  report  of  Bowling  Green,  Ohio,  committee  on  page  49. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


1 1 


WHY 


THERE 


ARE  SO  MANY  FAILURES  IN  WARMING 
VENTILATION  OF  BUILDINGS. 


AND 


rpiIE  publication  of  circulars  upon  the  subject  of  warming  and  ventilation  has  become  very 
JL  common,  and  many  theories  are  advanced  by  parties  who  have  never  had  experience  in  the 
practical  application  of  any  system , and  who  can  guarantee  nothing.  Architects,  doctors,  divines, 
stove  companies,  stove  dealers,  hardware  men,  and  in  fact  there  are  among  all  classes  those  who 
have  their  pet  plans  and  theories  ; but  there  are  very  few  who  have  had  actual  experience  in  the 
business — at  least,  when  they  have  been  held  financially  responsible  for  the  successful  warming 
and  ventilation  of  the  building  in  which  they  experiment.  Their  theories  sometimes  are 
attractive,  but  no  beauty  on  paper  can  compensate  for  a failure  in  their  practical  working  when 
cold  weather  comes  ; and  as  the  plans  they  recommend  are  accompanied  by  no  security  against 
loss  in  case  of  failure,  the  party  building,  finds,  when  it  is  too  late,  that  they  are  wholly  without 
that  which  they  are  so  anxious  to  secure — a good  warming  and  ventilating  apparatus — and  can 
only  make  good  the  defect  by  a heavy  outlay  of  money.  We  can  refer  to  hundreds  of  buildings 
in  proof  of  the  above,  where  the  owners  have  discarded  their  plans  and  thrown  out  their  appar- 
atus, and  introduced  the  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus,  the  expense  incident  to  the  change  causing 
large  expenditures  of  money  that  could  have  been  saved. 

The  experimenters  referred  to,  generally,  lose  sight  of  the  buildings  when  completed,  and  are 
not  aware  of  the  blunders  committed,  but  continue  to  recommend  the  same  ; while  those  who 
suffer  for  want  of  warmth  and  ventilation  either  condemn  all  systems  or  incur  the  expense  neces- 
sary to  correct  their  mistake. 

To  illustrate  : We  were  recently  called  before  a board  of  education  to  explain  the  Ruttan- 
Smead  system  with  our  improvements.  A dozen  plans  had  been  submitted  for  a $40,000  school- 
house,  and  of  the  lot  only  one  was  properly  arranged  for  warming  and  ventilation  ; and  of  the 
half-dozen  or  more  architects  present,  but  one  had  ever  had  experience  in  applying  a complete 
system  of  warming  and  ventilation  ; and  yet  the  others  were  ready,  and  seemingly  anxious,  to 
argue  against  our  experience  in  more  than  one  thousand  buildings.  In  a conversation  with  one  of 
them,  after  adjournment,  he  remarked  that  “ although  the  plan  submitted  by  you  is  the  only  com- 
plete and  sensible  system  I have  ever  seen,  yet  it  will  not  answer  for  me  to  acknowledge  it  before  the 
board,  as  the  design  I have  submitted  for  their  consideration  calls  for  the  old-fashianed  arrangement 
of  tin  pipes  and  small  flues.'''’  A\re  refer  to  this  to  show  the  necessity  of  placing  these  matters  in 
the  hands  of  parties  who  will  guarantee  and  become  responsible  for  the  success  of  the  plans  they 
submit ; and  although  we  do  not  expect  entire  immunity  from  criticism  (especially  from  old 
fogies),  such  has  been  the  lengthened  period  of  time  which  has  elapsed  since  the  managers  of  the 
Ruttan  Company  first  commenced  to  operate  with  this  system,  and  so  varied  have  been  our  oppor- 
tunities to  apply  it  to  all  classes  of  buildings,  that  we  do  not  hesitate  to  assert  our  ability  to  do 
better  work  than  any  with  whom  we  compete.  We  are  the  only  firms  in  the  United  States  who 
devote  their  entire  attention  to  the  warming  and  ventilation  of  buildings,  and  can  point  with  pride 
to  hundreds  of  the  largest  public  buildings  throughout  the  United  States  which  are  warmed  and 
ventilated  by  our  system  and  apparatus.  There  can  be  but  one  popular  system  of  warming  and 
ventilation,  and  that  must  be  the  natural.  In  1862,  in  discussing  the  matter,  the  Hon.  Henry 
Ruttan  said  : 

“Volume  upon  volume  has  been  written,  theory  upon  theory  has  been  started,  diagram  upon  diagram 
has  been  published,  to  show  the  different  operations  of  air  under  different  circumstances;  and  experiments 


12 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


without  number  have  been  made  on  the  two  subjects  of  ventilation  and  warming,  each  writer  and  experi- 
menter attempting  to  reconcile  the  general  principles  of  philosophy  to  his  own  particular  theory,  instead  of 
working  out  his  theory  by  the  unerring  principles  of  philosophy.  Any  system,  to  be  philosophical,  must  be 
universal  in  its  application  Without  this  universality,  it  must  fall  to  the  ground;  and  when  we  hear  of 
Dr.  Reid’s  system,  and  Dr.  Wyman’s  system,  and  a host  of  others  who  have  written  upon  this  subject,  each 
advancing  ideas  perhaps  differing  from  the  others,  no  clearer  proof  need  be  adduced,  that  this  great  subject  has 
never  yet  attained  to  the  dignity  of  a system  at  all.  It  is  a mere  patching  up  of  a piece  of  machinery  by  the  stray 
wheels  and  component  parts  of  several  other  pieces  of  machinery,  in  order  to  produce  a desired  result,  but 
which,  if  we  may  judge  by  the  progress  of  ventilation  thus  far,  has  ended  in  such  a want  of  harmony  in  its 
working,  as  to  leave  the  whole  subject,  for  all  practical  and  useful  purposes,  very  much  in  the  same  state  that 
it  was  in  the  beginning. 

“The  construction  of  an  efficient  system  of  warming  and  ventilation  requires  that  all  the  details  per- 
taining to  it  should  be  reduced  to  one  harmonious  whole,  w'hich  shall  be  applicable  to  everything.  If  not  good 
in  all  cases,  it  is  good  for  nothing.  It  must  be  adaptable  to  the  palace  and  the  cottage,  to  the  ship  and  to  the 
railway  carriage,  to  the  habitations  of  animals  as  well  as  those  of  men,  and  in  addition,  it  must  be  attainable 
by  the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich.” 

General  James  Bind  iff,  of  Wisconsin  State  Board  of  Health,  in  the  annual  report  of  187T, 
says  : 

“Enough  has  been  said  to  challenge  attention  to  the  cardinal  differences  of  opinion  which  obtain 
among  able,  talented  and  experienced  men  ; and  it  is  impossible,  in  the  brief  space  at  our  disposal,  to  state 
extensively  the  details  of  their  opposing  views.  Unfortunately  it  is  too  evident  that  the  rank  and  file  of  so-called 
ventilators  know  little  of  the  important  service  on  which  they  depend  for  profitable  employment.  Here  and  there  an 
operator  may  be  found  with  a conscience  in  his  work,  and  appreciable  rules  for  the  direction  of  his  labors 
and  the  apportionment  of  his  machinery.  But  in  a majority  of  instances  in  which  we  have  sought  to  obtain 
information  from  men  of  that  class  we  have  been  met  by  blank  incapacity,  allied  with  empirical  assurance 
embodied  in  assertions  that  no  rules  were  required,  that  guess  work  would  do,  that  it  made  no  difference 
how  many  persons  were  to  be  supplied  with  pure  air,  and  with  like  silly  statements  which  most  painfully 
illustrate  the  fact,  that  in  matters  of  ventilation  as  in  many  others,  the  public  are  being  misled  and  ditched  by 
blind  leaders  of  the  blind.” 

********** 

“ The  other  side  (Ruttan),  with  all  the  energy  of  deep  conviction,  resolutely  affirm  that  the  inlet  ducts 
must  be  sufficiently  large  to  flow  every  apartment  with  pure  warm  air,  so  that  in  the  event  of  a window 
being  temporarily  opened,  the  pressure  of  atmosphere  shall  be  from  within  outwards,  the  rooms  literally 
overflowing  with  desirable  atmosphere.  Failing  in  this  condition,  it  is  claimed  as  the  result  of  many  years’ 
experience,  that  the  discharge  ducts  will  necessarily,  under  unfavorable  circumstances,  reverse  their  opera- 
tions, becoming  supply  pipes  to  fill  the  semi-vacuum  which  the  other  scheme  always  tends  to  produce. 

“Professional  acumen  must  eventually  be  the  main  hope  of  the  community,  because  it  is  impossible  to 
apply  to  every  building  the  plans  which  may  in  some  instances  be  found  effective;  and  nothing  less  than 
thorough  scientific  training,  alied  with  practical  experience,  will  enable  the  operator  to  determine  where  and 
to  what  extent  the  normal  conditions  vary,  so  as  to  render  radical  changes  inevitable.” 

Our  statements  are  based  upon  actual  experience.  We  are  not  architects  or  builders. 
We  do  not  pretend  to  give  advice  regarding  buildings  on  points  other  than  those  pertaining  to 
warmth  and  ventilation.  We  are  manufacturers  of  apparatus  designed  to  accompany  the  natural 
system , and  which  was  an  outgrowth  of  its  demands,  and  we  give  personal  attention  to  the 
fulfillment  of  every  contract  awarded  us,  and  guarantee  success. 


FURNACES,  CONSTRUCTION,  ENGINEERING,  ETC. 


NE  of  the  first  questions  to  be  considered  by  almost  every  one  contemplating  the  construction 


v of  a building,  or  in  securing  apparatus  to  warm  an  old  one,  is  the  question  of  cost — cost  of 
apparatus,  cost  of  fuel  required  to  be  consumed,  cost  of  janitor  to  care  for  the  apparatus,  and  cost 
of  repairs.  Now,  these  are  all  items  of  no  small  consideration,  and  are  questions,  to  every  on.e  of 
which  the  engineers  of  the  Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Association  have  given  a great 
amount  of  time  and  attention.  The  four  points  named  above  are  the  important  ones  that  require 
careful  attention  from  every  one  contemplating  the  purchase  of  warming  and  ventilating  appa- 
ratus ; and  in  presenting  our  arguments  in  favor  of  the  system  which  we  call  the  Ruttan-Smead 
System,  we  sincerely  trust  the  reader  will  not  assume  that  our  conclusions  are  reached  because  of 
our  desire  to  make  a case  for  our  apparatus.  We  hope  others  will  carefully  go  over  the  questions 
as  we  have  done,  and  am  confident  that  they  will  agree  with  us  that  we  have  succeeded  in  at  least 
establishing  a reasonable  theory.  We  shall  illustrate,  as  far  as  is  possible,  most  of  our  arguments 
by  the  introduction  of  a large  number  of  cuts,  and  the  explanations  must  be  carefully  examined 
that  the  cuts  may  be  thoroughly  understood.  On  the  question  of  economy  of  fuel,  we  assume  that 
our  tubular  masonry  air-warmer,  represented  on  page  60,  is  constructed  upon  the  only  plan  that 
can  be  followed  and  the  best  results  be  obtained.  Why  ? In  answer,  let  us  call  the  attention  of 
the  reader  to  the  lithograph  on  page  33,  representing  an  open  lire.  Now  it  must  be  apparent  to 
any  thinking  person  that  a very  large  portion  of  the  heat  consumed  by  the  burning  fuel  is  lost 
up  the  fine  so  closely  connected  with  the  body  of  burning  fuel.  There  is  no  argument  on  this — 
any  one  will  admit  the  claim.  Is  it  not  plain,  then,  that  to  economize  fuel,  we  must  hold  on  to 
the  smoke  and  blaze , and  other  heated  products  of  combustion  as  long  as  possible  before  they  are 
permitted  to  escape  up  the  smoke  flue?  Of  course  it  is,  and  we  have  many  times  told  prospective 
customers  that  if  other  parties  urged  for  their  purchase  an  apparatus  that  retained  the  smoke, 
blaze,  etc.,  longer  than  did  ours,  that  was  the  one  for  them  to  buy,  and  we  say  so  now.  Two 
things  are  absolutely  essential  to  the  economical  warming  of  air,  namely  : a properly  constructed 
air  warmer,  and  some  method  of  circulation  that  will  rapidly  carry  away  the  air  from  the  appa- 
ratus that  warms  it.  Probably  the  cheapest  way  to  simply  warm  a room  would  be  to  build  the 
fire  on  the  floor,  for  then  all  the  heat  generated  would  certainly  be  contained  in  the  room  ; but  as 
it  would  be  impossible  for  any  one  to  remain  in  the  room  containing  an  open  fire  of  this  kind,  the 
next  best  thing  to  do,  provided  both  warming  and  ventilation  are  required,  would  be  to  cut  a hole 
in  the  fioor,  build  the  fire  in  a box,  put  the  box  in  the  cellar,  surround  the  box  with  an  air 
chamber,  connect  this  air  chamber  with  the  room  by  means  of  a pipe  or  flue,  and  also  connect  the 
air  chamber  with  the  outside  air  by  means  of  another  pipe  or  flue,  build  a fine  in  connection  with 
the  room  that  shall  permit  the  cold  air  to  go  out  as  the  warm  air  comes  in,  and,  assuming  that 
the  box,  or  air  warmer,  in  the  air  chamber,  is  properly  constructed,  and  fines  for  cold  air  supply, 
warm  air  exit,  and  for  ventilation,  are  of  proper  size,  and  you  will  then  have  an  apparatus  that 
will,  with  the  least  possible  expense  for  fuel , secure  not  only  the  thorough  warming,  but  the 
ventilation  as  well.  You  will  also  have  an  apparatus  that  will  require  the  least  amount  of  care, 
as  there  are  but  two  things  to  be  done,  namely  : put  in  the  fuel  and  take  out  the  ashes.  If  there 
is  more  than  one  room  to  warm,  connect  it  with  the  warm  air  chamber,  and  provide  a ventilating 
fine,  and  both  rooms  are  warmed  and  ventilated  from  one  fire,  and  with  little  care.  Now,  what 
can  be  more  simple  than  the  plan  described  ? If  properly  done,  the  results  are  always  the  same 


u 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


for  the  success  depends  upon  the  operation  of  a natural  law , a law  established  long  before  the 
theories  of  any  writer  on  the  subject,  or  any  manufacturer  ever  sold  a heating  apparatus.  We  have 
no  doubt  but  every  reader  will  at  once  say  that  they  can  easily  understand  the  plan  ; many  will 
say  that  they  knew  all  that  before,  and  would  like  to  have  us  state  exactly  the  size  they  should 
build  the  cold  air  flue,  the  air  warmer,  the  air  chamber,  the  warm  air  conduits,  and  the  ventilating 
flue.  This  is  just  what  we  shall  not  do,  and  for  several  reasons. 

1.  Because,  although  what  we  have  called  “ the  Ruttan-Smead  System  ” rests  on  a few  simple 
principles  (and  when  any  one  is  found  contradicting  these  principles  he  merely  makes  himself 
conspicuous  by  his  ignorance)  ; as  no  two  buildings  are  ever  exactly  alike,  its  application 
continually  varies.  Each  individual  case  requires  careful  study.  An  overdose  of  ventilation  may 
be  as  bad  as  an  underdose.  While  too  slow  a change  of  air  will  cause  a room  to  become  close, 
ill-smelling,  and  filled  with  carbonic  acid  and  other  gases  injurious  to  life,  too  rapid  a change  will 
cause  unpleasant  and  sometimes  dangerous  currents  of  air. 

A competent  engineer  will  take  into  account  not  only  the  internal  arrangement  of  a building, 
but  also  the  kind  and  quality  of,  floors,  ceilings,  windows,  walls,  etc,,  as  well  as  construction  of 
roof  and  the  height  of  neighboring  buildings.  Variation  in  volume  as  caused  by  temperature  ; in 
velocity  as  caused  by  height  and  temperature  ; percentage  of  moisture  and  the  various  gases  in 
the  atmosphere  must  also  be  considered,  and  the  successful  application  of  the  Ruttan-Smead 
System  depends,  to  some  extent,  upon  each  one  of  these  things  being  correctly  estimated. 

For  almost  twenty  years  the  members  of  this  Association,  have  been  steadily  laboring  to 
bring  this,  the  only  natural  system  into  general  use,  and  have  accordingly  made  a thorough  and 
long-continued  study  of  every  point  pertaining  to  the  science  and  art,  if  we  may  so  call  it,  of 
ventilation  and  warming. 

2.  Because  it  is  a part  of  our  business  to  furnish  plans  and  specifications  wherever  called 
upon  to  do  so,  and  for  which  we  expect  remuneration.  Is  it  easy?  Yes,  if  one  knows  Juno. 

The  application  of  the  system  to  public  buildings  differing  in  size,  height,  construction,  etc., 
requires  engineers  of  education  and  years  of  experience  on  this  particular  subject.  It  is  no  more 
a proper  field  for  the  clumsy  attempts  of  inexperienced  theorists,  tinners,  stove  dealers  and 
plumbers,  than  a city  hospital  would  be  for  a druggist,  a quack  or  others  with  untried  theories. 
The  average  architect  knows  no  more  about  the  details  of  a complete  plan  of  warming  and 
ventilation  than  the  writer  does  about  “the  man  in  the  moon.”  It  is  a crime  to  permit  experi- 
ments in  such  cases  where  other  methods  have  proven  safe.  When  human  health  and  life  are 
at  stake  the  best  is  never  too  good  nor  too  expensive.  It  is  a very  strange  fact  that  jnembers  of 
Boards  of  Education  and  others  in  like  position  will  sometimes  decide  such  matters  by  awarding 
contracts  for  ventilation  and  warming  apparatus  to  the  lowest  bidder,  and  although  our  prices  are 
never  more  than  enough  to  cover  a reasonable  profit,  we  always  refuse  to  present  an  estimate  if 
imformed  that  the  fact  of  a bid  being  “ low  ” will  aid  the  one  tendering  it.  It  must  be  evident  to  any 
one  that  this  method  of  settling  so  important  a matter  will  rarely  if  ever  secure  the  best  methods 
or  results.  It  would  seem  that  when  men  are  selected  by  a community  to  act  to  a certain 
extent  as  trustees  for  the  knowledge,  morals  and  health  of  the  young  people  intrusted  to  their 
care,  they  should  endeavor  to  do  tJce  very  best  thing  instead  of  the  very  cheapest  thing.  While 
the  plans  are  being  drawn,  and  before  commencing  to  build,  is  the  time  to  decide  every  point  of 
ventilation  and  warming.  The  cost  will  not  be  one  per  cent  more  to  so  erect  a building  that 
when  good  heating  apparatus  is  introduced  there  will  be  thorough  ventilation,  and  very  often 
we  reduce  the  cost  from  the  design  furnished  by  architect. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  air  is  a substance  occupying  space  and  having  definite 
weight.  An  ordinary  school  building  of  twelve  rooms,  each  room  containing,  say  12,000  cubic 
feet  of  air,  would  contain  at  all  times  144,000  cubic  feet,  but  the  weight  of  the  air  varies.  The 
weight  of  a cubic  foot  of  air  at  70°  is  0.0752  pounds  and  the  weight  of  the  entire  body  of  air  in 
the  building  would  be  10,828.8  pounds.  Suppose  the  number  of  pupils  in  each  room  should 
require  the  air  to  be  changed  six  times  each  hour  to  secure  proper  ventilation,  the  weight  of  air 
to  be  moved  into  the  house  at  the  basement  and  out  at  the  chimney  tops  would  be  65,000  pounds 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  V. 


per  hour.  This  does  not  take  into  account  the  cooling  of  the  air  as  it  passes  through  the  building, 
thereby  decreasing  its  bulk  and  increasing  its  specific  gravity.  Think  of  raising  65,000 
pounds  — thirty -two  and  one-half  tons  — sixty  feet  in  height  every  hour  during  the  school  day. 
Suppose  that  weight  of  stone  is  to  be  raised  by  steam  ; it  is  evident  that  considerable  force 
is  required  to  accomplish  it  ? This  shows  that  if  a building  is  to  be  ventilated  there  is  ivork 
to  be  done,  and  like  any  other  work  it  will  take  power  to  do  it. 

When  the  tire  is  well  managed,  about  90  per  cent  of  the  heat  or  force  thus  produced  is 
communicated  to  the  fresh  air  surrounding  the  air  warmer.  Each  cubic  foot  of  air  is  increased 
in  volume  0.00204  for  each  degree  of  heat  added.  At  zero  11.66  cubic  feet  of  air  weigh  one 
pound.  Warm  it  to  10°,  keeping  the  barometric  pressure  the  same  throughout,  and  its  volume 
will  be  increased  1.66  cubic  feet,  making  its  total  volume  13.32  cubic  feet.  The  pound  of  air  has 
been  increased  in  bulk  over  14  per  cent.  Were  this  1 1.66  cubic  feet  of  air  inclosed  in  an  air-tight 
sack  which  would  not  affect  the  weight  of  the  air,  but  would  resist  the  expansion,  and  then  the 
air  warmed  to  70°,  its  volume  would  remain  the  same,  while  the  pressure  would  be  increased  14 
per  cent,  and  its  specific  gravity  not  having  been  changed,  it  would  remain  practically  in  equili- 
brium, without  movement  up  or  down.  Now  suppose  the  sack  to  be  so  changed  as  to-  offer  no 
resistance  to  the  expansion  or  contraction  of  the  air.  The  14  per  cent  of  increased  pressure  would 
disappear,  while  the  volume  would  be  increased  14  per  cent,  and  the  sack  would  immediately  rise 
like  a balloon,  continuing  to  rise,  if  permitted,  until  it  reaches  a point  where  densities  are  again 
equal  where  it  will  be  in  equilibrium.  Thus  we  see  that  of  the  100  per  cent  of  fuel  burned,  if  the 
combustion  is  as  perfect  as  man’s  ingenuity  has  thus  far  been  able  to  make  it  for  practical  use, 
ten  per  cent  being  allowed  for  unavoidable  waste  to  secure  good  chimney  draft  for  combustion 
(and  that  is  far  less  than  the  usual  waste  in  common  furnaces),  we  have  90  per  cent  left  which 
goes  into  the  air  as  heat,  an  extremely  active  force,  which  is  communicated  to  everything  with 
which  it  conies  in  contact  of  lower  temperature,  until  it  gives  all  that  it  can  give,  when  an 
equality  of  temperature  is  reached.  When  we  speak  of  equilibrium,  we  use  the  word  in  a com- 
parative sense  only,  and  as  explanatory  of  our  meaning  ; for  it  is  evident  that  our  atmospheric  air 
is  never  at  rest;  changes  in  temperature,  and  consequently  in  volume  and  density,  following 
each  other  every  moment. 

Now  there  are  two  kinds  of  power,  viz.,  natural  and  artificial  or  mechanical.  To  lift  thirty- 
two  and  one-half  tons  of  water,  for  example,  requires  artificial  power.  But  natural  power 
drops  it.  It  is  pumped  up  hill,  but  it  runs  down  hill  of  itself.  The  miner  digs  his  trench 
from  the  lake  above  to  the  mine  below,  and  down  comes  the  water.  But  the  natural  and 
resistless  movement  of  air  when  warmed  is  up.  With  any  system  whatever,  or  with  any 
lack  of  system  of  ventilation,  air  must  be  warmed  to  make  a building  comfortable  in  winter. 
Now,  why  should  we  use  engines  and  fans,  or  other  mechanical  appliances  to  lift  thirty-two 
and  one-half  tons  of  air  up,  when  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  make  our  chimney  (trench)  and  it 
will  flow  up.  We  lift  this  great  weight  without  any  further  expense  than  would  be  required 
to  warm  the  room  without  ventilating.  In  our  system,  the  only  mechanical  force  used  to 
accomplish  ventilation  is  the  combustion  of  fuel  required  to  warm  the  rooms.  We  simply 
provide  flues  of  proper  size , location  ami  construction,  and  the  enduring  laws  of  nature  step 
in  to  bear  the  burden  of  fouled  air  from  the  rooms.  This  is  a simple  law  of  nature,  but  its 
application  is  an  art , To  determine  the  proper  construction,  location  and  management  of  the 
Air  W armer,  the  Hues,  the  inlets  and  outlets,  and  the  various  details  of  the  system  is  a task 
at  which  the  inexperienced  will  always  fail,  and  the  wisest  will  sometimes  make  mistakes. 

The  air  is  continually  forced  to  seek  its  level  as  certainly  as  water  does,  and  imperfections 
of  construction  of  walls,  ceilings,  floors  and  windows  are  thus  found  by  this  subtle  fluid  when  the 
builder  may  claim  that  his  work  has  been  perfectly  done,  and  that  “ the  house  is  air-tight.” 
Building  committees  therefore  should  not  need  urging  by  the  warming  and  ventilating  engineers 
to  induce  them  not  only  to  build  of  materials  which  are  the  best  non-conductors  of  heat,  but  also 
to  put  in  such  other  material  as  may  be  necessary  to  prevent  the  wind  from  blowing  through. 
Common  brick  is  one  of  the  best  non-conductors  of  heat  that  we  have,  but  many  have  seen  the 


16 


xorthcott  & stine,  elmira,  x.  y. 


curious  experiment  of  forcing  so  strong  a blast  of  air  against  a brick  wall  as  to  blow  out  a lighted 
candle  on  the  opposite  side.  Yet  place  a single  sheet  of  first  quality  paper  on  the  outer  face  of 
the  wall,  and  it  cannot  be  done.  We  insist,  then,  as  a matter  of  economy  and  comfort,  to  secure 
a large  saving  in  fuel,  and  greater  perfection  in  ventilation,  that  extreme  care  must  be  used,  as 
buildings  are  being  erected  to  prevent  cold  from  being  forced  through  the  walls  and  floors  when 
the  severe  wind  storms  occur  in  our  northern  latitudes. 

Let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  there  is  only  a definite  amount  of  heat  to  be  obtained  from  a 
pound  of  fuel.  All  fuels  have  been  tested,  and  a comparative  value  given  in  “ heat  units.”  The 
heat  produced  by  the  perfect  combustion  of  one  pound  of  coal  will  raise  14,500  pounds  of  water 
1 decree,  or  one  pound  of  water  14,500  degrees.  The  amount  of  heat  obtainable  from  any  fuel  is 
therefore  limited,  and  where  combustion  is  equally  good  in  two  different  forms  of  heating,  the 
advantage  will  incline  to  the  one  which  can  properly  warm  the  largest  volume  of  air. 

Our  large  and  powerful  Air  Warmers  or  Furnaces,  illustrations  of  which  are  given  in  the 
latter  part  of  this  book,  pages  60  and  123,  are  perfectly  adapted  to  the  work  to  be  done,  and 
are  an  outgrowth  of  the  demands  of  the  “ natural  system  ” and  are  as  much  a part  and  parcel  of 
the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of  warming  and  ventilation  as  a person’s  hat  is  a necessary  part  of  his 
complete  wardrobe.  They  are  made  on  the  same  principle  as  a locomotive  boiler,  the  best  known 
apparatus  for  rapidly  warming  water.  The  natural  system  of  ventilation  requires  the  introduction 
of  a very  large  volume  of  air,  several  times  the  amount  used  by  steam  and  “hot  air  furnace”  men  ; 
and  the  invention  of  our  Heating  Apparatus  was?  the  result  of  trying  almost  every  form  of  heating 
apparatus  made,  with  the  result  that  we  only  secured  heat  enough  with  the  very  best  to  merely 
move  the  air  in  the  building,  thereby  producing  but  little  ventilation.  But  this  was  not  enough, 
the  air  was  required  to  be  moved  more  rapidly  and  at  the  same  time  only  warmed  to  a pleasant 
summer  temperature.  We  have  on  previous  pages  given  the  origin  of  our  Air  Warmer.  It  will 
be  readily  seen  that  it  is  really  a part , and  an  absolute  necessity  for  the  successful  application , 
of  the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of  Warming  and  Ventilating. 

Cuts  will  be  found  further  on  of  our  latest  patterns  of  furnaces.  It  will  be  noticed  by 
those  familiar  with  the  old  (see  page  123),  that  many  improvements,  on  which  we  have  been 
oranted  patents,  have  been  added.  All  that  we  need  say  of  this  powerful  heater  is,  that  it 
is  the  result  of  almost  twenty  years’  effort  to  make  the  best  possible  apparatus  regardless 
of  its  cost.  We  believe  it  to  be  the  perfection  of  Warm  Air  Heating  Apparatus,  and  speak 
for  it  your  careful  examination.  More  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  have  been  expended  to 
perfect  it. 

We  are  publishing  quite  a number  of  plans  and  cuts  illustrating  our  System.  We  have 
frequently  found  that  architects  and  others,  not  as  familiar  as  they  should  be  with  our  methods, 
would  copy  parts  of  the  work  shown  in  plans  arranged  or  drawn  by  us,  and  yet  leave  the  plans 
altogether  incomplete  or  inadequate  for  thorough  ventilation  and  warming.  We  will  gladly  give 
such  suggestions  as  mav  be  needed  for  the  thorough  and  successful  introduction  of  our  system 
into  any  building  if  the  plans  are  submitted  to  us  before  finally  arranged.  It  is  only  reasonable 
to  suppose  that  men  who  devote  their  entire  time  and  thought  to  this  one  department  of  building 
construction  should  become  more  competent  for  it  than  a general  engineer  or  architect ; just  as 
the  physician  who  confines  himself  to  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  eye  or  ear  comes  to  know 
more  of  his  particular  specialty  than  the  physician  in  general  practice.  We  know  several  very 
accomplished  and  successful  architects,  who  understand  the  theories  and  general  practice  of 
warming  and  ventilation  thoroughly,  and  Avho  have  had  great  experience  in  arranging  their 
buildings  for  it;  yet  these  same  architects,  although  quite  uniformly  successful  in  all  depart- 
ments of  their  work,  rarely  if  ever  complete  their  plans  without  submitting  them  to  p>rofes- 
sionals  or  sp>ecialists  for  suggestions.  An  architect  who  claims  to  know  all  about  every  detail 
pertaining  to  the  construction  of  a building,  is  unworthy  of  the  confidence  of  his  client. 

As  an  illustration  of  this  foolishness  of  blindly  following  the  advice  of  an  architect  or  others 
who  have  no  experience,  we  will  refer  to  two  instances  of  more  than  one  hundred  of  a similar 
nature.  Six  years  ago  we  called  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  a city,  which  can 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


be  named  if  necessary,  to  the  fact,  that  as  planned  their  building  could  not  be  either  warmed 
or  ventilated,  and  that  to  correct  the  error  then  they  would  be  at  no  expense,  and  our  price  for  the 
apparatus  would  be  eleven  hundred  dollars.  They  thought  they  knew  more  than  any  one  else, 
although  no  member  of  the  board  had  ever  had  experience  in  building,  and  their  architect  had 
never  built  a dozen  buildings  of  any  kind.  A “hot  air  ” furnace  firm  sold  them  furnaces  for  seven 
hundred  dollars , and  we  paid  no  more  attention  to  the  matter  until  a few  weeks  ago  when  we 
received  a letter  from  the  secretary  of  the  board,  asking  an  interview.  Upon  our  arrival  we  found 
two  steam  fitters  ready  to  bid  on  the  work,  and  to  again  assure  the  board  that  the  flues  were  all 
right , and  to  guarantee , as  did  the  hot  air  furnace  man  six  years  ago.  We  found  four  hot  air  fur- 
naces in  the  basement,  and  a stove  in  every  school  room.  We  again  called  attention  to  improper 
construction  ; we  were  awarded  the  contract,  but,  of  course,  had  to  raise  our  bid  to  cover  expense 
to  correct  errors  which,  added  to  the  amount  paid  for  worthless  apparatus,  causes  the  tax-pagers  to 
pay  over  three  thousand  dollars  for  what  they  could  have  secured  for  eleven  hundred.  Possibly 
another  instance  nwy  interest  the  reader,  and  we  add  an  extract  from  a recent  communication  of 
Mr.  Smead’s  to  the  Toledo  Board  of  Education  : 

I have  received  great  favors  from  your  Honorable  Board  and  wish  to  assure  you  that  I most  fully  appre- 
ciate them  all,  but  I also  wish  .to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  since  the  time  I first  presented  my  card 
to  your  Building  Committee,  who  had  in  charge  the  construction  of  the  Humboldt  addition,  I have  asked  no 
hearing  before  your  Board,  and  have  never  importuned  the  members  for  a dollar’s  worth  of  work. 

When  I came  here  three  years  ago,  your  buildings  were  all  heated  either  by  stoves,  hot  air  furnaces  or 
steam.  How  well  I do  not  say.  I attacked  your  system  of  construction,  offering  my  own,  and  after  investi- 
gation by  your  Board,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Thurstin,  Dr.  Bergen,  Hubbard,  Zirwas,  Dr.  Reed,  Dr.  Squire,  Nor- 
ton, and  Judge  Commager,  and  upon  the  report  of  Mr.  Oechsler,  your  Superintendent  of  Buildings,  after  his 
visit  to  Defiance  High  School  building,  our  plans  were  selected  and  the  cost  of  constructing  the  building 
largely  reduced.  This  action  upon  our  part  at  once  raised  a howl  from  some  of  the  stove  dealers,  and 
especially  from  one  or  two  who  had  been  for  years  “ blind  leaders  of  the  blind.”  About  this  time  the  Com- 
mittee having  in  charge  the  construction  of  the  Warren  Street  Building,  asked  me  to  present  plans  and 
estimates  of  cost  of  warming  and  construction.  I attended  a Board  meeting  by  invitation  of  the  Committee,  and 
was  there  met  by  those  whose  revenue  was  being  reduced  by  a little  intelligent  action  upon  the  part  of  the 
Board,  who  were  interested  in  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  buildings.  These  parties  were  ready  to  guarantee 
anything  I ivoidd,  claim  all  and  more  than  I claimed,  and,  in  fact,  were  ready  to  yell  themselves  hoarse  to  suppress 
the  invader.  I became  disgusted  with  their  performance,  and  the  Committee  (disposed,  I suppose,  to  be  con- 
servative,) gave  the  old  fashioned  apparatus  one  more  chance,  and  with  the  following  results: 

It  cost  during  the  winter  of  1883  and  1884  to  warm  and  ventilate  ten  school  rooms  and  a hall  at  the  Hum- 
boldt building,  $131.11  with  the  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus.  At  the  Warren  building  you  attempt  to  warm  and 
do  not  ventilate  four  rooms  with  the  apparatus  that  was  guaranteed  to  warm  eight  rooms  at  the  time  contracts 
were  let,  with  an  apparatus  “so  much  superior”  to  ours,  $334.33. 

During  the  winter  of ’83-’84  it  cost  to  warm  and  ventilate  with  the  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus  at  the  Hum- 
boldt building,  ten  rooms  and  hall,  $131.11.  To  warm  and  not  ventilate  the  same  building,  five  rooms  and  hall,  it 
cost  $305.71  with  the  apparatus  that  was  said  to  be  “vastly  superior”  to  ours.  These  facts  came  under  the 
observation  of  your  Board,  and  a contract  was  made  with  me  to  improve  the  sanitary  condition  of  several  of 
your  buildings  during  the  summer  of  1884,  and  to  provide  heating  apparatus  to  warm  them.  Again  was  the 
howl  raised  that  the  Board  were  not  consulting  those  who  had  been  paid  thousands  and  thousands  of  dollars  to 
provide  apparatus  that  neither  warms  nor  ventilates.  They  “can  do  anything  Smead  can  do.”  They  know 
“ more  about  warming  and  ventilating  than  Smead  does.”  I will  not  dispute  this,  but  why  didn't  they  do  so 
before  he  came?  Why  then  did  they  go  on  year  after  year,  introducing  traps  in  no  way  suitable  for  the  build- 
ings in  which  they  were  introduced  ? On  the  basis  of  the  figures  taken  from  your  books  showing  the  cost  of 
fuel  used  now,  the  introduction  of  the  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus  in  the  99  school  rooms  of  the  city  now  rearmed  and 
ventilated  shows  that  during  this  winter  (’84  and  ’85),  there  is  a net  saving  in  fuel  alone  of  over  three  thousand  six 
hundred  dollars  ($3,600).  Not  one  cent  has  been  expended  for  repairs,  and  I will  guarantee  that  the  entire 
apparatus  can  be  put  in  as  good  condition  as  when  set  in  the  twelve  buildings  we  warm  for  you  for  fifty 
dollars.  Schools  have  been  continued  during  the  entire  winter  which  has  been  the  coldest  within  the 
memory  of  the  “ oldest  inhabitant.”  Supt.  Dowd  said  to  me  recently  that  “ if  the  change  in  apparatus  had 
not  been  made  there  would  have  been  weeks  during  the  past  winter  when  thousands  of  children  in  Toledo 
would  have  been  unable  to  attend  school  because  of  cold  school  rooms.” 

I only  call  your  attention  to  the  question  of  cost.  I say  nothing  about  the  still  more  important  epiestion  of 
ventilation  for  over  five  thousand  school  children,  and  the  better  attendance  thereby  secured,  the  change  of 
air  in  each  and  every  school  room  every  fifteen  minutes  as  shown  by  the  meter,  and  ask  you  gentlemen  of 


18 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


the  board,  the  taxpayers  of  Toledo  and  patrons  of  the  schools  and  the  parents  of  our  children,  who  have  to 
spend  years  in  these  buildings,  have  I been  of  any  benefit  to  the  city  ? What  return  have  you  for  the  few 
thousand  dollars  paid  me  ? Can  it  be  counted  in  dollars  and  cents?  I know  of  but  few  who  can  reasonably 
complain,  and  they  are  the  hot-air  men,  the  plumbers,  the  coal  dealers  and  the  doctors.  Some  weeks  since 
your  Committee  (under  instructions  from  the  Board,  I am  informed)  called  at  my  office  and  requested  that  I 
prepare  estimates  of  cost  of  improving  the  condition  of  several  more  buildings,  and  now  the  same  mob  are 
yelling  again,  going  around  to  your  places  of  business  telling  all  sorts  of  yarns,  and  guaranteeing  as  heretofore. 
They  “ can  do  anything  Smead  can  do,”  “Smead  has  no  patents  to  protect  his  system.”  Other  cities  have 
stolen  from  him,  and  so  they  recommend  yqp  to  do  the  same  ; they  can  do  better  work  for  $1.50  or  $2  than 
Smead  can  with  $500  ! Your  buildings  that  now  slink  can  be  made  equal  to  a June  morning  if  you  will  only 
let  them  send  an  “ expert  ” to  examine  and  report. 

In  1882  we  were  requested  to  submit  an  estimate  to  furnish  warming  and  ventilating  apparatus 
for  a school  building  in  Youngstown,  Ohio.  We  were  informed  that  there  were  already  in  the 
building  “ hot  air  furnaces,”  and  that  “ the  only  warm  portion  of  the  building  during  cold 
weather  was  the  basement,’'  and  that  was  too  warm  ; that  about  “ 1 00  tons  of  hard  coal  were 
burned  annually,”  and  schools  were  dismissed  because  of  cold  school  rooms  very  often  each 
winter;  that  “ board  were  prejudiced  against  furnaces.”  Upon  examination  of  the  building  we 
found  exactly  what  we  have  seen  many,  many  times  before,  namely,  small  furnaces,  small  warm 
air  pipes,  small  warm  air  flues,  the  basement  rooms  spoiled  for  any  other  purpose  than  for  fuel 
and  the  “ hot  air  traps  ” which  some  inexperienced  hardware  dealer,  or  some  traveling  “ salesman  ” 
who  sold  furnaces  on  a commission,  had  sold  the  board.  They  could  not  be  used  for  play  rooms 
or  for  janitor’s  quarters,  and,  what  was  worse,  there  were  no  ventilating  flues  in  the  entire  building / 
the  air  of  the  school  rooms  was  simjylg  horrible.  On  page  78  we  represent  a basement  plan  of  the 
building  as  we  found  it.  A careful  measurement  showed  570  feet  of  warm  air  jnpe.  On  page 
79  we  represent  the  plan  we  presented  for  the  consideration  of  the  board.  A glance  at  each  must 
convince  any  one  that  the  latter  is  the  more  simple. 

With  the  first,  the  basement  rooms  are  spoiled. 

With  ours,  only  a small  portion  is  occupied  by  apparatus. 

With  the  first,  four  fires  must  be  built  during  fall  and  spring  months. 

With  ours,  only  two  fires  are  necessary  during  the  fall  and  spring  months. 

With  the  first,  there  is  a large  expense  for  long,  horizontal  tin  pipes. 

With  ours,  there  is  not  a foot  of  tin  pipe  used. 

With  the  first,  there  was  a small,  damp  underground  cold  air  box,  to  be  filled  with  rats, 
dead  cats,  water  and  rubbish  that  always  collect  around  a school  building. 

With  ours,  a cold  air  room  that  can  easily  be  kept  clean. 

With  the  first,  there  are  in  the  building  (built  into  the  walls)  small,  tin  warm  air  flues  that 
are  expensive  and  difficult  to  introduce. 

With  ours,  large  brick  flues  closely  connected  with  the  warm  air  chamber. 

With  the  first,  the  air  is  conveyed  a long  distance  horizontally. 

With  ours,  the  warm  air  only  has  to  rise,  which  it  can  easily,  up  the  large  flues.  On  page 
79  we  represent  the  plan  of  first  story,  showing  location  of  warm  air,  smoke  and  ventilating  flues- 
Arrows  represent  entrance  of  warm  air  and  exit  of  foul  air.  Our  guarantee  was,  the  temperature 
should  be  nearly  the  same  in  all  portions  of  the  room ; that  the  variation  should  not  exceed  two  de- 
grees, and  that  the  entire  building  could  be  warmed  within  two  hours  after  fires  were  lighted.  Not- 
withstanding the  simplicity  of  our  plan,  and  our  strong  guarantee,  the  prejudice  of  the  board 
against  furnaces  was  so  strong  that  our  bid  was  rejected , and  steam  heating  apparatus  was 
introduced.  During  the  summer  of  1883,  one  year  later,  the  board,  after  using  the  steam 
apparatus  in  the  building  referred  to,  one  winter,  with  a vacation  of  two  weeks  for  repairs  to 
apparatus,  contracted  with  us  to  furnish  furnaces  for  two  school  buildings,  and  the  following 
letter,  written  by  the  superintendent  of  Youngstown  schools  to  superintendent  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y., 
schools,  gives  evidence  of  the  results  : 

Superintendent  L.  C.  Foster,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. : Youngstown,  O.,  January  29,  1884. 

Dear  Sir, — Your  favor  received.  In  answer,  would  say  that  we  have  tried  about  every  kind  of 
heating  apparatus,  and  prefer  the  “ Ruttan-Smead  System  of  heating  and  ventilating”  to  anything  else,  in 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


10  . 

respect  either  to  heating,  ventilating,  or  economy.  We  expect  to  put  it  into  two  additional  buildings  next 
summer.  Some  of  our  teachers  who  taught  last  winter  in  a building  heated  with  steam  say  that  “ there  is  no 
comparison.”  One  says  the  change  to  Euttan-Smead  System  has  certainly  improved  her  health. 

Very  truly,  etc.,  R.  McMillan,  Superintendent. 

w e will  simply  add  that  during  the  summer  of  1884  the  Youngstown  board  introduced  our 
apparatus  in  two  more  school  buildings,  and  refer  to  W.  N.  Ashbaugh,  Esq.,  secretary  of  the 
board,  for  such  other  information  as  the  reader  may  desire. 


EXPLANATION  OF  WOOD  CUTS. 


ON  pages  67,  6S,  69,  70,  71,  72,  73,  74,  75,  76,  77,  we  represent  various  drawings,  showing 
the  introduction  of  t lie  Ruttan-Smead  system  of  warming  and  ventilation  as  applied  to 
the  South  Street  School  Building  in  Toledo,  a large  eight  room  school  with  unusually 
large  corridor  space  and  in  an  exposed  portion  of  the  city,  and  one  of  the  most  difficult 
to  warm  of  any  we  have.  The  entire  system  is  applied  to  this  building,  vi/,.  : floor 
warming,  Smead’s  system  of  continuous  ventilation,  and  also  his  system  of  Dry  Closets.  This 
is  the  building  referred  to  in  the  report  on  pages  23  and  24.  We  call  attention  to  its 
completeness,  and  we  question  if  there  is  in  any  city  one  more  simple  in  all  its  parts.  We  of 
course  refer  to  the  system  of  warming  and  ventilation,  not  to  the  architecture.  With  tlte 
latter  we  hare  nothing  to  do.  We  do  not  think  that  one  brick  too  many  or  one  brick  too  few  are 
used,  and  the  same  may  be  said  about  all  other  items  that  enter  into  its  construction,  so  far 
as  our  work  is  concerned.  The  air  warmers  (furnaces)  occupy  spaces  between  walls  that  would 
be  of  no  value  for  other  purposes,  and  the  dry  closets  (privies)  are  between  two  carrying  Avails,  and 
the  entire  system  of  closets  (privies)  did  not  cost  Si 50,  while  vaults  could  not  have  been  built  out- 
side for  less  than  $800  to$l,000,  and  then,  unlike  those  here  shown,  they  Avould  have  been  “veritable 
plague  spots  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.”  The  entire  building,  heating  apparatus  and  all,  is 
cared  for  by  a woman.  No  matter  Iioav  cold  the  Aveather  may  be,  a tire  built  at  seven  o’clock  in 
the  morning  will  secure  rooms  Avarmed  to  70°  Fall,  at  8.30  A.  M.,  and  the  air  meter  shows  that  all 
the  air  contained  in  each  room  is  changed  every  twelve  minutes.  Does  the  reader  ask,  “ Do 
you  always  obtain  these  results?”  With  rare  exceptions,  Ave  do,  but  not  ahvays.  “Why?” 
There  are  a score  of  reasons  why.  We  always  do  the  best  we  can,  considering  all  the  circumstances, 
but  are  often  embarrassed  by  causes  that  should  never  exist,  as,  for  instance,  the  interference  by 
an  architect  Avho  has  friends  to  aid,  or  schemes  to  experiment  Avitli,  or  possibly  by  another 
condition  that  should  never  happen — there  is  not  enough  money  appropriated  to  complete  the 
building,  and  the  item  to  be  cut  down  is  the  very  one  that  should  be  provided  for  at  the  outset, 
viz.  : the  heating  apparatus,  and  Ave  haAre  been  unwise  enough  to  put  in  too  little  capacity,  and 
as  a result  there  come  days  eA'ery  Avinter  Avhen  there  are  one  or  more  rooms  that  cannot  be 
Avarmed.  AVe  are  now  fully  determined  that  Ave  never  again  will  yield  to  the  persuasions  of  a 
poverty-stricken,  short-sighted,  economical  (?)  board  to  put  in  capacity  about  which  Ave  have  a 
question,  or  Avhicli  must  be  strained  to  do  good  work.  We  are  now  fully  determined  to  never 
again  submit  a bid  on  Avhich  Ave  haA'e  the  slightest  doubt.  If  there  is  not  enough  money  in 
the  treasury  to  buy  sufficient  apparatus,  the  “other  felloAv”  may  secure  the  embarrassment  that 
is  sure  to  folloAv.  We  won't. 


20 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


THE  RUTTAU-SMEAD  TUBULAR  AIR  WARMER. 


LpHE  cut  on  page  60  represents  our  latest  improved  furnace  or  “air  warmer,”  as  it 
JL  appears  when  set  ready  to  be  inclosed  in  brick.  On  page  123  we  represent  the  one  used 
previous  to  1885. 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  furnace  is  in  principle,  the  same  as  a locomotive  boiler , only  that  the 
furnace  is  surrounded  by  air  instead  of  water.  The  locomotive  boiler  is  considered  the  best 
apparatus  for  warming  water  rapidly.  If  this  is  true,  why  should  not  the  same  principle  be 
applied  to  warming  air  f Heat  is  not  a material  thing.  We  can  only  warm  and  ventilate  our 
buildings  by  taking  into  them  a large  volume  of  warm,  pure  air  ; and  therefore  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  that  the  apparatus  below  shall  present  a large  amount  of  fire  surface ; and  as  “fire 
surface  ” is  only  surface  with  tire  inside  of  it,  this  can  only  be  obtained  by  retaining  in  the  air- 
chamber  in  basement  (as  long  as  possible  without  impeding  combustion  too  much)  the  heat 
generated  by  the  burning  fuel.  One  particle  of  air  does  not  warm  another  particle  of  air  ; and 
as  air  can  only  be  warmed  by  bringing  it  in  direct  contact  with  tire  surface,  we  have  in  our  appa- 
ratus covered  the  necessary  points  to  secure  the  greatest  economy  in  fuel  and  the  most  satisfac- 
tory results  where  the  warming  of  a large  volume  of  cold  air  is  required.  The  blaze  and  smoke, 
after  it  leaves  the  tire-box,  passes  back  through  the  lower  Hue  into  back  chamber,  then  forward 
through  the  twelve  long  flues  to  front  chamber,  then  back  through  the  large  flue  to  chimney. 
The  whole  furnace  is  surrounded  with  a brick  case.  The  cold  air,  entering  by  the  cold  air  duct, 
from  outside,  has  free  circulation  around  every  part  of  the  furnace,  fire-box,  flues  and  chambers, 
and  thus  every  square  inch  of  heating  surface  is  made  directly  available.  This  furnace  has  more 
tire  surface  from  same  amount  of  tire,  and  will  warm  a larger  volume  of  cold  air  than  any  other. 
The  flues  are  accessible  in  front,  and  can  be  cleaned  in  a moment,  so  that  it  is  impossible  for  them 
to  clog  up.  It  is  warranted  to  burn  wood  or  soft  coal  equally  well.  The  sides  of  fire-box  are 
protected  by  heavy  cast-iron,  gas-burning  linings,  which  can  be  easily  removed  and  replaced  by  new 
ones,  and  at  but  slight  expense  / and  as  this  is  done  through  the  fuel  door  it  is  not  necessary,  as  in 
other  furnaces  where  repairs  are  required,  to  take  the  furnace  apart.  These  linings  stand  off 
from  side  of  fire-box  about  two  inches,  and  prevent  the  burning  fuel  from  resting  against  the 
sides  of  furnace  over  which  the  fresh  air  for  the  building  passes,  and  thus  red-hot  surfaces  are 
avoided.  The  air  chamber  back  of  the  lining  is  supplied  with  air  from  under  the  grate  and  also 
through  a damper  directly  under  the  fuel  door.  Very  hot  air  is  thus  supplied  to  the  fuel 
through  the  perforations  of  the  linings,  which,  coming  in  contact  with  the  escaping  smoke, 
ignites  it  at  once.  The  result  of  this  is  the  burning  of  a large  proportion  of  the  smoke  and  a 
consequent  economy  in  fuel  of  nearly  one-half  over  the  single  fire-pots  now  used  by  others  and 
shown  on  pages  58  and  59.  We  would  call  attention  to  the  manner  in  which  fuel  is  burned  as 
compared  with  combustion  in  other  furnaces.  See  page  63.  Instead  of  the  deep  body  of  coal  and 
the  imperfect  combustion  in  the  red-hot  fire-pots  of  other  heaters,  in  this  we  have  a thin  layer  of 
fuel  (4  in.  to  6 in.)  spread  over  a large  grate  surface,  with  an  air  supply  on  top  of  fuel,  con- 
sequently much  more  perfect  combustion,  a greater  amount  of  fire  surface,  and  furnace  heated  to  a 
much  less  degree. 


XOIvTI  ICOTT  & ST  I X E,  KLMIKA,  X.  Y. 


SMEAD’S  SYSTEM  OF  u CONTINUOUS  VENTILATION. 


/ \N  page  75  we  represent  a sectional  drawing,  representing  basement  and  a portion  of  first  story  of 

South  Street  school  building,  Toledo,  Ohio,  cutting  through  plan  on  line  BB,  shown  on  page 
67.  We  introduce  this  cut  to  show  a very  valuable  feature  connected  with  our  work  as  now  applied. 
By  this  arrangement  it  is  absolutely  impossible  for  the  teacher  or  janitor,  no  matter  hoio  careless 
they  may  be,  to  stop  a floiu  of  air  through  the  room  ; and  it  at  the  same  time  enables  the  teacher  to 
secure  air  at  any  temperature  desired,  that  is,  any  temperature  ranging  from  the  external  air  to 
the  warmest  air  that  the  air-warmer  (furnace)  can  produce.  If  the  valve  is  thrown  back  or  down, 
all  the  air  passing  into  the  room  is  warm,  and  in  ratio  to  the  distance  the  valve  is  raised  is  the 
volume  of  the  warm  air  diminished,  and  the  cold  air  permitted  to  come  up  from  below  and  mingle 
with  that  in  the  room.  On  page  76  we  represent  the  register  and  also  the  valve  regulator.  By 
turning  the  crank  to  the  right,  cold  air  will  come  through  the  register,  and  by  turning  it  to  the 
left,  warm  air  will  flow  into  the  room.  The  regulator  is  simple,  neat,  and  easily  managed. 

With  all  kinds  of  apparatus,  the  rooms  are  liable  at  times  to  become  too  warm,  owing  to 
carelessness  upon  the  part  of  janitors,  and  with  all,  except  ours,  if  room  is  too  warm,  and  the 
teacher  closes  the  register,  she  stops  the  flow  of  fresh  air  into  the  room,  which  will,  and 
without  her  noticing  it,  soon  become  unfit  for  occupancy.  This  difficulty  is  entirely  done  away 
witli  by  the  introduction  of  our  system  of  construction. 

We  desire  to  call  attention  at  this  place  to  the  register  design  we  use  for  school  and  other  large 
rooms  ; the  ordinary  register  has  more  iron  than  air  sjiace,  while  in  this  we  have  secured  as  little 
iron  and  as  great  air  space  as  possible.  The  convex  diamond  face  is  screwed  to  an  iron  frame 
that  is  set  when  the  brick  walls  are  built,  thus  securing  a permanent,  solid  and  safe  arrangement. 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


90 


SMEAD’S  SYSTEM  OF  DRY 


CLOSETS. 


IN  the  Look  published  by  Mr.  Ruttan  can  be  found  the  following  on  the  subject  of  Dry 

Closets  : 

If  the  city  council  of  London,  some  hundreds  of  years  ago,  could  have  foreseen  the  lamentable  picture 
presented  in  a late  report  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  to  report  upon  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  city, 
appointed  in  consequence  of  the  effluvia  arising  from  the  filthy  condition  of  the  Thames,  I cannot  believe 
that  it  would  ever  have  permitted  the  draining  of  water-closets  in  the  sewers.  This  great  city,  with  its 
millions  of  human  beings,  is  in  a most  perilous  and  deplorable  condition,  and  if  its  present  system  of 
drainage  and  sewerage  be  continued,  I cannot  imagine  in  what  way  it  can  escape  depopulation  by 
pestilence. 

There  should  be  sewers,  and  there  should  be  drains,  no  doubt,  in  every  large  city,  but  only  to  carry 
off  the  water,  not  the  sordes  or  the  excrementitious  matter  from  the  human  body ; this  should  all  be 
carried  away.  This  idea  will  at  first  view  be  pronounced  a most  Herculean,  as  well  as  an  intolerably 
offensive,  work.  Not  so  ; the  residue  of  twelve  ounces  of  excrement  will  weigh,  when  dry,  only  about  two 
ounces. 

Let  us  suppose,  then,  a building  (such  as  represented  on  the  large  inset  of  this  book),  and  the  water- 
closet  to  be  so  arranged  that  all  deposits  fall  directly  at  base  of  ventilating  stack.  Then  suppose  a volume 
of  air  flowing  closely  over  the  brick  or  earth  basin,  made  at  the  bottom  to  receive  the  sordes,  and  up  the 
shaft  at  the  rate  of  five  feet  per  second  all  the  year  round,  such  will  be  the  power  of  evaporation  that  one 
man  will  carry  upon  his  back  at  one  load  the  whole  of  the  deposits  for  years.  This  surely  is  no  great 
trouble  or  expense — nothing  to  be  compared  to  the  expense  which  is  now  incurred  in  keeping  the  ordinary 
cesspools  and  drains  in  order.  In  order,  however,  to  make  this  residuum  more  conveniently  available  to 
be  entirely  consumed  upon  the  premises  where  there  is  even  a very  small  patch  for  a garden  attached, 
lime,  ashes  or  plaster-of-Paris,  should  be  thrown  down  the  pipes  of  the  closet,  in  the  proportion  of  about  a 
gallon  per  week.  This  will  not  only  render  the  mass  hard  and  easily  cut  up  for  removal,  but  the  ashes 
and  plaster-of-Paris  will  fix  and  retain  a great  portion  of  the  ammonia,  so  valuable  to  flowers,  and,  indeed 
plants  of  any  kind. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  actual  state  of  things  as  at  present.  Every  water-closet  and  cesspool  is  drained 
into  the  sewers;  the  months  of  these  sewers  are  in  general  run  down  to  the  edge  of  some  body  of  water,  which 
does  not  always  cover  the  whole  mouth,  as  it  should  do  in  order  to  exclude  the  air,  and  especially  does  it  not 
exclude  the  air  at  low  water  where  there  is  a tide.  The  consequence  is,  that  every  house  whose  drain  is  not 
in  perfect  order  becomes  a foul-air  shaft  for  the  sewer,  and  the  heat  and  chimneys  accelerate  the  flow  of  air 
from  the  drains  upward  and  into  the  building,  and  especially  so  when  the  wind  blows  into  the  mouth  of 
the  sewer,  which  it  frequently  does.  The  inmates,  therefore,  of  these  dwellings  have  not  only  to  endure 
the  malaria  generated  within  their  own  dwellings,  but  have  also  the  advantage  of  that  of  their  neighbors. 
I have  stood  at  the  mouths  of  many  sewers,  and  instead  of  experiencing  any  offensive  odor  as  I had  expected, 
I frequently  found  a strong  draft  into  the  sewer.  Thus,  in  these  cases,  these  sewers  carried  down  the. 
insoluble  matter  which,  in  a sanitary  point  of  view,  could  do  little  harm,  while  the  noxious  gases  were 
carried  up  into  the  houses. 

These  sewers,  instead  of  thus  becoming  the  greatest  nuisances  we  have,  might,  in  addition  to  being 
the  conduits  for  the  waste  water,  be  turned  to  good  account  in  the  ventilation  of  a whole  city.  Erect 
foul-air  shafts — say  about  four  for  every  mile — at  convenient  places  adjacent  to  the  sewers,  and  connected 
with  them  by  underground  ducts,  and  the  exhaustion  thus  brought  to  bear  upon  the  sewers,  and  the  sewers 
upon  the  drains,  would  go  far  to  improve  the  sanitary  condition  of  our  cities.  If  the  civic  authorities  would 
be  at  half  the  expense  of  the  erection  of  the  many  furnace-shafts  scattered  over  our  largest  and  most 
populous  places,  upon  condition  of  the  proprietors  allowing  a connection  with  the  sewer  in  the  way  stated, 
a very  cheap  and  effectual  exhaustion  might  be  had.  In  general,  however,  a single  shaft,  erected  at  or  near 
the  mouth  of  a sewer,  would,  if  properly  built,  be  found  sufficient. 


XORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


23 


For  many  years,  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself,  Mr.  Sinead  introduced  in  residences 
the  plans  suggested  by  Mr.  Ruttan,  and  always  successfully;  but  as  his  suggestions  could  not  be 
followed  when  there  were  a large  number  of  persons  to  use  the  closets,  as  only  a very  limited 
number  of  seats,  not  more  than  two,  could  be  used,  and  that  they  must  be  located  above  the 
basement , and  never  receiving  any  encouragement  from  his  business  associates,  but  little  was 
done  until  the  establishment  of  the  office  at  Toledo.  The  circumstances  attending  the  adop- 
tion of  his  ideas  are  fully  covered  in  the  following  extract  from  the  annual  report  of  the  President 
of  the  Toledo  Board  of  Education  : 

Two  years  ago  the  Board  introduced  the  Ruttan-Smead  system  of  heating  and  ventilation  into  the 
new  part  of  the  Humbolt  building.  Six  rooms  were  heated  by  this  system  and  six  by  the  old  hot-air  furnaces. 
An  excellent  opportunity  was  thus  afforded  of  comparing  the  two  systems  as  to  efficiency  and  economy. 
A careful  account  for  the  entire  year  was  kept  of  each  side,  and  the  result  showed  that  the  new  system  was 
what  was  claimed  for  it.  It  heated  and  thoroughly  ventilated  the  rooms,  and  the  schools  on  that  side  were 
not  dismissed  fora  single  day.  A test  with  an  air-meter  showed  that  on  ordinarily  cold  days  the  air  could  be 
changed  from  six  to  eight  times  per  hour.  As  to  economy,  it  cost  $236  less  to  heat  and  ventilate  these  six 
rooms  than  it  did  to  heat  the  other  six  by  the  ordinary  hot-air  furnace.  So  successful  was  the  experiment, 
and  so  well  pleased  was  the  Board,  that  the  new  system  was  ordered  placed  in  the  six  new  buildings  subse- 
quently erected.  The  unsatisfactory  condition  of  the  heating  apparatus  in  the  old  buildings  and  the  constant 
complaint  of  parents  and  teachers  on  account  of  having  to  dismiss  on  cold  days,  led  the  Board  to  investigate 
the  expense  of  introducing  the  new  system  into  the  old  buildings.  After  a careful  investigation  the  Commit- 
tee on  Buildings  reported  that  an  introduction  of  the  Ruttan-Smead  system  into  six  old  buildings  would 
secure  the  same  results  as  were  secured  in  the  Humboldt  building,  and  at  a saving  of  fuel  of  about  $1,800  per 
annum.  This  saving  in  fuel  alone  would  in  seven  years  pay  for  the  cost  of  making  the  change,  to  say  nothing 
about  the  saving  of  valuable  time  of  the  pupils  on  account  of  no  dismissal  of  schools  from  the  cold  condition 
of  the  rooms.  The  change  recommended  was  made. 

It  is  a matter  of  congratulation  to  the  patrons  of  the  schools  that  we  now  have  ninety-eight  school  rooms 
out  of  a total  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  thoroughly  heated  and  ventilated.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  there 
is  no  city  in  the  United  States  that  has  its  school  rooms  better  heated  and  ventilated  than  the  city  of  Toledo. 


SOUTH  STREET  BUILDING. 

Most  of  the  school  buildings  in  our  city  are  three  stories  high,  thereby  causing  a great  deal  of  unneces- 
sary climbing  of  stairs.  The  Board  some  time  ago  concluded  that  it  was  best  hereafter  to  erect  buildings  only 
two  stories  high.  The  South  Street  building  is  the  first  complete  building  of  this  kind  ordered  erected.  It 
is  composed  of  eight  rooms,  four  on  each  floor.  The  basement  is  large  and  roomy.  In  connection  with  this 
building  another  important  departure  was  made.  The  board  have  long  been  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  unwise 
to  force  little  children  in  inclement  weather  to  pass  through  rain  and  cold  to  yard  water-closets,  and  were 
also  sensible  to  the  unsatisfactory  arrangements  of  closets  in  the  buildings.  In  this  dilemma,  a consultation 
was  invited  with  Mr.  Isaac  D.  Smead,  heating  and  ventilating  engineer,  who  was  known  to  have  applied  suc- 
cessfully the  Ruttan  and  Smead  systems  of  ventilation  to  the  construction  of  water-closets  located  in  base- 
ments in  such  manner  as  to  remove  all  objections.  Upon  consultation  and  examination  of  the  plans 
presented,  it  was  found  that  it  would  cost  much  less  to  construct  closets  upon  this  plan  than  upon  any  other, 
and  the  work  was  ordered  done. 

At  the  time  of  the  writing  of  this  report,  and  after  the  occupancy  of  the  building,  it  is  found  that  the 
basement  is  entirely  free  from  all  malodors,  and  an  examination  of  the  closets  will  convince  any  one  that  the 
system  must  be  a complete  success. 

If  possible,  changes  should  be  made  in  the  other  buildings  that  will  obviate  the  necessity  of  passing  to 
closets  through  rain  and  cold. 

In  this  connection  we  will  add  that,  since  the  above  report  was  written,  the  Toledo  Board  of 
Education  have  introduced  the  Ruttan-Smead  system  of  warming  and  ventilation,  and  also  the 
Isaac  D.  Smead  system  of  dry  closets  into  three  more  buildings — one  new  and  two  being  old, 
three-story  twelve  room  buildings.  From  the  two  last  we  removed  steam-heating  apparatus 
and  old  system  of  water-closets.  As  in  this  book,  on  pages  67,  6S  and  69,  we  represent  the 
plan  of  a Toledo  School  Building  (the  one  referred  to  by  President  Zirwas),  we  will  also  call 
attention  to  the  following  article  from  the  Toledo  Evening  Bee  February  21,  1885,  and  some 
other  extracts  of  similar  character. 


24 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


THE  DRY  CLOSET  SYSTEM. 


( Toledo  Evening  See.) 

A TOLEDO  MAN  BECOMES  A PUBLIC  BENEFACTOR  BY'  THE  HAPPY  APPLI- 
CATION OF  A LITTLE  PHILOSOPHY  AND  GOOD  COMMON  SENSE. 


THE  RESULTS  AND  IIOW  THEY  HAVE  BEEN  ACCOMPLISHED. 


Mr.  Isaac  D.  Smead  has  perfected  and  patented  a system  known  as  the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of 
Heating  and  Ventilation,  on  which  he  is  fast  gaining  a national  reputation.  There  is  no  doubt  of  its  being 
the  most  perfect  in  effect  and  economy  known  to  the  world,  and  it  so  readily  recommends  itself  that  no 
argument  is  necessary  to  secure  its  introduction,  wherever  known,  in  all  new  public  buildings,  especially 
into  school  houses,  where  it  has  such  a wonderful  beneficial  effect  upon  the  health  of  the  teachers  and 
pupils. 

It  is  not  the  intention  in  this  article  to  treat  upon  the  system  which  has  already  been  so  thoroughly 
and  satisfactorily  tested  in  Toledo,  but  to  a comparatively  recent  and  most  valuable  addition  to  it.  Having 
succeeded  in  perfecting  his  ventilating  system,  so  that  school  rooms  may  readily  be  supplied  with  air  as 
fresh  and  wholesome  as  in  the  open  fields,  whose  temperature  can  be  easily  graded  and  steadily  preserved 
at  any  recjuired  degree,  without  producing  any  dangerous  currents  of  air,  varying  but  three  degrees  between 
the  floor  and  the  ceiling,  thus  securing  warm  feet — all  this  having  been  accomplished,  there  still  remained 
one  fearful  evil  which  existed  in  connection  with  every  crowded  school  building,  and  destroyed  the  health 
and  comfort  of  the  inmates  in  a marked  degree.  This  was  the  privies,  whose  noisome-  odors  and  death- 
dealing  gases  continued  to  pervade  the  building,  to  a greater  or  less  extent,  in  spite  of  the  best  and  most 
costly  appliances  known.  This  evil  can  now  be  averted  by  a simple  arrangement  devised  by  Mr.  Smead 
and  his  eminent  success  in  this  most  important  matter  entitles  him  to  an  honored  position  in  the  front  rank 
of  the  great  benefactors  of  his  age.  Its  value  can  hardly  be  estimated,  and  for  that  reason,  although  a 
delicate  subject  to  treat  upon  in  a public  journal,  an  effort  will  be  made  to  give  Bee  readers  a plain  idea 
of  its  arrangement  and  grand  results. 

The  system  has  as  yet  been  used  in  but  one  building  in  Toledo,  that  of  the  South  Street  School.  After 
this  building  had  nearly  approached  completion,  the  Board  of  Education  consulted  Mr.  Smead  (who  was 
putting  his  heating  and  ventilating  appliance  in  the  building)  regarding  the  evils  which  would  arise  in 
connection  with  the  privies,  which  must  be  placed  outside  the  building,  as  they  were  out  of  reach  of  the 
city  water  and  sewer  privileges.  Under  his  direction,  they  then  built  the  privies,  both  for  the  boys  and 
girls,  in  the  basement  of  the  building,  the  total  cost  of  which  was  included  in  the  carpenter  work, 
not  exceeding  $150.  Notwithstanding  that  this  arrangement  was  an  afterthought,  and  that  he  labored  under 
many  disadvantages  in  the  construction  of  the  building,  Mr.  Smead  took  the  responsibility  of  counteracting  all  bad 
effects,  and  has  done  it  completely. 

In  order  to  obtain  a perfect  understanding  of  the  practical  workings  of  this  system  (which  bids  fair  to 
create  a complete  revolution  in  the  constructing  of  vaults  for  public  buildings),  the  following  gentlemen 
accompanied  Mr.  Smead  to  the  South  Street  School  building  last  Wednesday  afternoon,  on  a tour  of 
inspection:  Franklin  Hubbard,  a member  of  the  Toledo  Board  of  Education;  Frank  J.  Scott  and  A.  E. 
Macomber,  members  of  the  Building  Committee  of  the  Manual  Training  School ; Prof.  R.  H.  Miller, 
Superintendent  Manual  Training  School ; Prof.  J.  W.  Dowd,  Superintendent  Toledo  Public  Schools,  and  a 
Bee  reporter. 

An  examination  was  first  made  of  the  ventilating  and  heating  system,  which  has  heretofore  been 
described  in  the  Bee.  Fresh  air  from  out  of  doors  is  supplied  in  such  quantities  as  may  be  desired,  which 
is  heated  by  furnaces  and  passes  through  various  flues  into  each  school  room.  The  same  volume  of  air 
enters  the  room  constantly,  and  the  proportions  of  warm  and  cold  can  be  regulated  to  a nicety  by  the 


XORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


25 

teacher*,  according  to  the  requirements.  After  circulating  through  the  room  it  passes  out  through  grated 
openings  which  are  placed  at  short  intervals  in  the  baseboards  on  the  outer  boundaries  of  the  room.  This 
warm  air  then  passes  under  the  floor,  heating  it  sufficiently  to  warm  the  feet,  and  is  carried  to  the  foul-air 
room  in  the  basement.  From  thence  it  is  drawn,  by  way  of  arched  openings  in  the  brick  wall,  through  the 
privy  vaults  beneath  the  seats  to  the  brick  foul-air  chimney,  whence  it  escapes  into  the  open  air,  at  the 
rate  of  49,200  cubic  feet  per  minute. 

The  philosophy  of  the  arrangement  is  exceedingly  simple.  This  current  is  created  by  the  natural 
disposition  of  heated  air  to  rise,  and  the  draft  thus  produced  in  the  stack  is  amply  sufficient  for  the  purpose. 
For  use  in  summer,  a small  heater  is  built  into  the  walls  at  the  base  of  the  stack,  and  when  the  draft  is  not 
sufficiently  strong  without  it  (as  perhaps  on  damp,  muggy  days),  a fire  may  be  quickly  kindled  here,  and 
the  hot-air  rising  through  the  stack  at  once  stimulates  the  draft  to  any  required  extent. 

The  privies  are  built  upon  a platform  raised  three  feet  above  the  floor  of  the  basement,  furnished 
with  seats  and  lids,  in  the  usual  manner,  and  divided  by  wing  partitions.  X o odor  of  any  kind  was 
distinguishable  here.  A seat  was  raised  and  the  air-meter  indicated  a downward  draft  of  160  cubic  feet 
per  minute.  These  seats  occupy  two  rows,  back  to  back,  with  a brick  partition  between  them,  and  have 
been  in  use  constantly  since  September  10th  last  (with  the  exception  of  the  week’s  holiday  vacation)  by 
400  pupils. 

The  investigators  desiring  the  fullest  information,  entered  the  foul-air  room  by  way  of  a low  door  leading 
from  the  basement,  which  is  always  kept  tightly  closed  and  fastened.  From  here  they  crawled  through  the 
arches  into  the  vaults  beneath  the  seats,  carrying  lighted  candles,  which  it  was  found. difficult  to  keep 
burning  owing  to  the  heavy  drafts  of  air.  The  deposits  of  these  400  pupils  for  a period  of  five  months 
could  all  be  readily  stowed  on  an  ordinary  wheel-barrow.  It  has  been  demonstrated  that  five-sixths  of  the 
deposit  in  a privy  escapes  in  the  form  of  gases,  through  the  stack.  These  deposits  were  examined  care- 
fully, and  found  to  be  more  or  less  devoid  of  odor — those  three  days  old  being  entirely  odorless,  dry 
and  spongy. 

After  they  had  thus  made  the  most  thorough  examination,  the  Bee  representative  called  upon  the 
several  gentlemen  (who  from  their  deep  interest  and  careful  study  of  the  subject,  he  deemed  eminently 
capable  of  forming  a correct  judgment),  for  their  various  opinions,  with  the  following  result : 

Mr.  F.  Hubbard,  of  the  Toledo  Board  of  Education  : “ I cannot  see  the  least  defect  in  it,  and  it  seems 
to  me  to  be  the  most  perfect  arrangement  for  the  purpose  that  can  be  imagined.  I only  wish  this  dry- 
closet  system  could  be  introduced  into  every  school  building  in  the  city,  for  it  could  not  fail  to  prove 
exceedingly  beneficial  to  the  health  of  every  inmate.  The  heating  arrangement  at  the  base  of  the  chimney 
renders  it  as  available  in  the  summer  season  as  in  the  winter,  and  during  the  warm  months  is  when  its  great 
benefits  will  be  the  more  perceptible.” 

Prof.  J.  W.  Dowd,  Superintendent  of  the  Toledo  Schools:  “Everything  can  be  said  for  Smead’s  dry- 
closet  system,  and  absolutely  nothing  against  it.  There  is  no  odor ; no  poisonous  gases ; and  one  great  benefit 
is  the  fact  that  scholars  will  not  be  obliged  to  leave  the  school  building  in  bad  weather.  And  then,  as  a 
matter  of  economy,  look  at  the  small  cost  and  complete  simplicity  of  it.  In  the  Jefferson  building  $1,200 
has  recently  been  expended  to  produce  healthy  and  comfortable  closets  ; they  are  more  or  less  troublesome, 
and  apt  to  get  out  of  repair,  and  are  not  free  from  offensive  odors  by  any  means.  The  closets  in  the  Wash- 
ington and  Sherman  schools,  where  considerable  money  has  been  spent,  are  exceedingly  bad  in  winter, 
and  simply  fearful  in  summer.  Thousands  of  dollars  have  been  expended  upon  the  closets  connected  with  the 
Central  High  School  building,  and  although  they  were  superior  to  any  others  in  the  city  when  constructed, 
there  is  a strong  odor  to  them,  which  is  at  times  very  bad.  Those  connected  with  the  other  school  buildings 
(with  the  exception  of  the  new  South  Street  School),  are  all  out  of  doors,  and  all  are  more  or  less  offensive. 
There  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  but  that  the  Smead  system  of  dry  closets  will  soon  supersede  every  other, 
for  its  superiority  cannot  be  questioned.  The  same  might  be  said  regarding  his  heating  and  ventilating 
system,  with  which  the  other  is  connected.  We  now  have  it  in  99  of  our  city  school  rooms,  and  the  benefit 
to  health  and  comfort  and  saving  of  fuel  is  very  noticeable.  But  a few  days  since,  a teacher  in  one  of  the 
rooms  thus  heated,  who  has  a delicate  constitution,  told  me  that  his  health  had  been  greatly  benefited  by  it; 
probably  it  is  the  first  instance  on  record  where  the  air  of  a school-room  proved  beneficial  to  an  invalid. 
In  the  Humboldt  building,  six  rooms  were  heated  by  it,  and  six  by  other  means ; and  here  it  was  fairly 
tested.  In  the  former  the  scholars  were  bright  and  animated,  and  in  the  latter,  listless,  with  a constant  air 
of  weariness;  the  attendance  in  the  former  averaged  two  and  one  half  per  cent  better  than  the  latter,  owing 
mainly  to  the  more  healthy  condition  of  the  scholars.  I am  gratified  to  having  the  opportunity  of  expressing 
myself  upon  this  subject,  and  could  readily  point  out  many  more  features  which  abundantly  prove  the 
superiority  of  this  heating,  ventilating,  and  dry  closet  system.” 

Prof.  R.  H.  Miller,  Superintendent  of  the  Manual  Training  School:  “The  dry  closet  system  far  surpasses 
anything  of  the  kind  that  I ever  saw  or  imagined.  I had  heard  it  explained,  but  never  appreciated  its  value 
until  I saw  it  practically  demonstrated.  It  does  away  with  the  need  of  plumbers,  no  water  rates  to  pay,  no 


26 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


unpleasant  odors  ; no  use  for  sickly-smelling  disinfectants.  The  system  is  most  complete,  and  the  test  at  the 
South  Street  School  building  ought  to  entirely  satisfy  and  convince  the  most  incredulous.” 

A.  E.  Macomber,  Director  of  the  Toledo  Manual  Training  School : “ I have  been  favorably  impressed  with 
the  Ruttan  & Smead  heating  and  ventilating  plan  from  the  first  time  my  attention  was  called  to  it,  and  a 
knowledge  of  its  practical  workings  strengthens  and  confirms  my  original  opinion.  The  practical  benefits 
derived  from  the  dry -closet  system  are  very  great;  it  is,  without  question,  far  superior  to  the  water  system, 
both  in  an  economical  and  sanitary  point  of  view.  One  cannot  appreciate  that  entire  cleanliness  of  the 
system  without  a personal  investigation.” 

F.  J.  Scott,  Manual  Training  School  Board:  “ The  dry  closet  system  of  disposing  of  excretory  matter,  as 
shown  in  the  South  Street  School  House  in  connection  with  the  Smead-Ruttan  system  of  heating,  is  the 
beginning  of  a revolution  in  the  whole  system  of  household  and  city  sewerage.  It  is  a study  for  anyone 
interested  in  this  vital  subject,  and  is  one  of  the  most  useful  inventions  of  our  time.  Every  member  of  the 
City  Council,  the  Board  of  Health  and  other  public  boards  of  the  city,  and  the  whole  medical  fraternity 
should  give  this  system  a careful  examination.” 

A special  committee  was  recently  appointed  by  the  Canton,  Ohio,  Board  of  Education,  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  into  the  various  mode  of  heating  and  ventilating  school  buildings,  and  their  report,  which  was 
published  in  the  Canton  Repository,  embodies  their  disinterested  opinions,  and  may  be  received  as  valuable 
evidence.  After  first  complimenting  Mr.  Smead’s  system,  as  seen  in  a Norwalk  school  building,  where  it  had 
recently  been  placed,  they  say  : 

“We  then  went  to  Toledo,  and  reached  the  first  building  examined,  a new  one,  about  4 p.m.  The  fires 
were  then  out  in  some  furnaces,  and  almost  out  in  others.  Here  we  found  Smead’s  Dry-Closet  System  in  oper- 
ation, in  connection  with  the  Ruttan  & Smead  heating  and  ventilating  system.”  * * * * * 

[Here  follows  a description  of  the  system  similar  to  that  already  given.]  The  report  of  their  inspection  of 
the  closets  at  the  South  Street  School  closes  as  follows:  “The  members  of  the  committee  confess  that  these 
results  created  in  their  minds  a deep  and  profound  sensation.  Here  was  a system  of  closets  sufficient  to  accom- 
modate six  hundred  pupils,  in  constant  use  for  four  months,  at  an  original  cost  of  not  to  exceed  $150  in  perfect 
condition,  with  no  noisome  odors;  no  unsightliness  ; no  pipes ; no  water  works ; no  plumbers'  appliances;  no  sewer- 
age system;  no  loathsome  and  disease-creating  cesspools;  no  stifling  disinfectants ; nothing  but  a free  and  unob- 
structed circulation  of  God’s  atmosphere,  which  had  already  performed  the  double  and  important  functions  of 
heating  and  ventilating  the  rooms  above,  in  which  over  four  hundred  children  had  been  engaged  these  four  months 
in  their  school  work. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  benefits  of  Mr.  Smead’s  valuable  improvements  in  heating  and  ventilating  may 
be  extended  until  it  has  been  universally  adopted  wherever  it  is  found  practicable  ; and  also  applied  to  the 
ventilation  of  sewers  as  soon  as  possible.  Thus  every  public  building  and  private  residence,  which  has  sewer 
connections,  may  receive  all  of  those  benefits  which  we  have  attempted  to  portray.  The  value  of  such  an 
arrangement,  in  preserving  the  health  of  the  city,  can  hardly  be  estimated. 

The  introduction  of  Isaac  D.  Smead’s  system  of  heating  and  ventilating  and  dry-closets  in  all  of  our 
school  buildings  is  no  doubt  one  of  the  best  arrangements  which  could  be  devised  for  the  preservation  of  the 
health  of  pupils  and  teachers.  This  has  been  most  satisfactorily  demonstrated  where  it  has  already  been  in 
use  in  the  city,  and  its  value  is  therefore  beyond  all  estimate  in  dollars  and  cents,  Its  economy  in  the 
annual  saving  of  fuel,  repairs,  water  rents,  etc.,  also  amounts  to  a large  sum  in  the  aggregate. — Toledo  Bee. 


“ We  have  the  Isaac  D.  Smead  system  of  heating  and  ventilating  and  dry  closets  in  our  new  school  building, 
in  the  third  ward,  and  too  much  cannot  be  said  in  its  praise.  Not  one  of  the  rooms  in  this  large  building  but 
has  been  enjoy  ably  comfortable  every  day  this  winter,  no  matter  what  the  temperature  was  outside.  The 
dry-closets  are  a perfect  success,  and  Supt.  Knott  says,  taking  the  building  in  all  its  appointments,  it  is  the 
model  school  building  of  the  state. — Tiffin  Daily  Herald,  February  27. 

We  also  add  the  following  article  upon  the  subject  written  by  Mr.  Otis  Jones,  President  of 
the  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Chicago  : 

Our  Dry -Closet  System,  as  patented  by  Isaac  D.  Smead,  March  31,  1885,  will  convince  the  most  skeptical  of 
its  superiority  over  any  other  system  in  use.  Two  others  are  practiced.  The  first  and  most  common  is  the 
old  vault  plan,  in  which  the  vault  is  used  until  it  is  filled,  when  either  the  building  is  placed  on  a new  vault 
and  a little  earth  thrown  over  the  old  one  : or,  during  the  night,  as  secretly  as  possible,  the  contents  of  the 
vault  is  removed  by  night-soil  scavengers,  taken  to  the  limits  of  the  city,  where  a pit  is  dug,  the  excreta 
dumped  in  and  a few  feet  of  earth  or  sand  covered  over.  There  it  lies  for  years,  a festering  mass  of  corrup- 
tion, a veritable  plague  spot  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  In  the  course  of  time  (how  near  eternity  the  “time” 
may  approach  no  one  can  tell),  these  disease-breeding  particles  will  be  absorbed  and  changed  by  the  sur- 
rounding earth ; but  this  is  mainly  through  the  action  of  the  atmosphere  and  sunlight,  the  more  deeply  it  is 


NORTHCOTT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


covered  the  slower  tlie  action,  and  the  longer  the  danger  continues.  However  horrible  the  odors  may  be, 
they  are  not  in  themselves  poisons,  but  are  notices  to  man,  spoken  in  Nature’s  loudest  voice,  that  the  penalty 
for  taking  the  poisons  from  whence  the  odors  come  into  man’s  system  is  death. 

The  second  plan  is  the  Water-Closet  system  as  used  in  most  large  cities.  It  consists  in  washing  all  the 
excreta  in  pipes,  provided  for  the  purpose,  from  the  houses  of  the  city  into  running  streams,  or  large  bodies  of 
water  where  “in  course  of  time”  it  becomes  so  dissipated  by  the  action  of  the  water  and  atmosphere  as  to 
cease  to  be  injurious.  There  are  two  very  great  dangers  that  we  encounter  from  the  use  of  this  system. 
Sewer  gas  is  a terrible  enemy  to  life,  and  it  requires  the  work  of  the  most  skillful  sanitary  engineers  to  merely 
keep  it  at  bay,  as  it  is  ever  waiting  for  its  opportunity,  through  careless  workmen  or  imperfect  material,  to 
make  its  silent  and  persistent  attack.  The  other  danger  is  in  the  contamination  of  drinking  water.  The 
people  of  Chicago,  or  any  other  large  city,  need  not  be  reminded  how  often  there  are  epidemics  of  “ bowel 
complaints.”  It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  “ winter  cholera”  and  other  similar  epidemics  have  been  caused 
entirely  by  sewage  contamination  in  the  drinking  water.  The  recent  terrible  typhoid  fever  scourge  at  Ply- 
mouth, Pa.,  was  at  first  a very  mysterious  disease,  but  the  mystery  disappeared  when  the  drinking  water  was 
analyzed.  It  was  taken  from  a small  river,  near  the  margin  of  which,  some  miles  above,  several  privy  vaults 
of  a small  town  had  stood  for  years.  The  filth  so  completely  saturated  the  ground  that  it  finally  reached 
the  river,  thereby  contaminating  the  water,  causing  great  suffering  to  over  one  thousand  people  and  death  to 
more  than  a hundred  and  fifty,  as  estimated  by  Dr.  Higgins,  of  Wilkesbarre.  lie  detected  t he  typhoid  germ  in 
the  water,  although  it  was  apparently  pure.  There  is  a modification  of  the  water-closet  system  which  many- 
scientific  men,  notably,  George  E.  Waring,  .Tr.,  consider  much  better  than  the  usual  one  we  have  named.  This 
consists  in  having  two  sets  of  sewage  pipes;  one  for  rain  water  for  roofs  and  streets;  the  other  for  the  waste 
from  water-closets,  sinks,  etc.  The  first  named  ,goes  into  the  river  or  lake  as  in  the  former  case,  while  the 
other  is  forced  by  means  of  pumping  machinery  some  miles  from  the  city  and  thrown  upon  the  surface  of 
a large  tract  of  ground  provided  for  the  purpose,  in  some  cases  requiring  thousands  of  acres  for  a single  city. 
There  it  is  left  for  the  atmosphere  to  evaporate  its  moisture  when  it  becomes  inoffensive  and  inoccuous. 

Now  let  it  be  noticed  that  in  each  case  there  is  danger  until  the  excreta  has  been  acted  upon  by  the 
atmosphere  and  the  sunlight;  and  when  that  exposure  has  been  free  and  ample,  giving  every  opportunity  for 
evaporation,  all  danger  has  passed  from  it  and  it  is  ready  to  be  mingled  with  “ mother  earth.”  Mr.  Duclaux 
claims  to  have  recently  proven,  by  experiments  with  fluids  containing  known  percentages  of  germs,  that 
sunlight  possesses  a microbocide  power  fifty  times  more  eneregtic  than  heat.  The  following,  taken  from  the  Sanitary 
News  of  May  9th,  1885,  is  only  one  of  thousands  of  similar  cases  throughout  the  United  States: 

The  authorities  of  a county  jail  in  Wisconsin  are  considerably  perplexed  by  a problem  of  drainage  for 
their  institution.  The  building  is  located  on  low  ground  and  within  a few  hundred  feet  is  a so-called  river, 
which  is  really  nothing  but  a half-stagnant  pond.  For  ten  years  the  drainage  of  the  institution  has  been 
directed  towards  this  “ river,”  through  an  open  ditch,  without  reaching  it.  The  result  is  that  the  ditch  is  full 
and  its  contents  are  spreading  out  over  the  low-lying  ground.  The  waste  is  backing  up  under  the  building 
itself,  and  the  prisoners,  of  whom  there  are  never  less  than  forty,  are  suffering  greatly  with  sickness.  The 
county  commissioners  want  somebody  to  tell  them  what  to  do — and,  of  course,  without  cost  to  the  county. 

Since  such  epidemics  are  avoidable  by  avoiding  the  conditions  which  cause  them,  it  becomes  an  impera- 
tive necessity  to  make  the  conditions  as  harmless  as  possible. 

The  old  systems  confined  and  covered  all  human  excreta  with  greatest  care.  The  Dry-Closet  system 
follows  an  entirely  different  course.  Each  inmate  of  a building  requires  many  thousands  of  cubic  feet  of 
fresh  air  per  day  to  give  him  life  and  health,  and  in  buildings  provided  with  our  ventilating  and  warming 
apparatus  that  quantity  is  abundantly  large  to  absorb  far  more  moisture  each  day  than  would  be  necessary  for 
each  individual.  We  claim  that  by  its  use  there  is  absolutely  no  chance  for  the  excrement  to  cause  disease 
of  any  kind;  that  the  necessary  apparatus  being  as  simple  as  the  walls,  floors,  partitions,  and  doors  of  the 
building,  will  be  as  permanent  as  the  building  itself ; that  there  will  consequently  be  little  or  no  expense  for 
repairs  while  the  building  stands;  that  when  a building  is  erected  the  added  expense  is  very  small ; that  by 
its  use  you  have  no  frozen  water  pipes  preventing  the  use  of  closets:  no  unsightly,  ill-smelling  privies  ; no 
waste  pipes  breathing  forth  diphtheria,  scarlet  fever,  typhoid,  death.  We  know  it  never  fails  and  never  can 
fail  when  put  in  as  specified  by  us.  School  Boards  and  others  who  have  examined  it,  without  a solitary 
exception,  say  they  believe  it  to  be  far  superior  to  any  other  form  of  closet  ever  built. 


28 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


We  would  like  here  to  give  building  committees  some  suggestions  that  come  from  a wide  experience.  As  Mr.  Isaac  D.  Smead, 
has  successfully  warmed  and  ventilated  a larger  number  of  public  buildings  than  any  other  sanitary  engineer  living  in  this  country 
we  invite  careful  attention  to  what  he  writes  upon  the  following  most  important  subject. 


HOW  TO  SELECT  WARMING  AND  VENTILATING  APPARATUS. 


“There  is  a principle  which  is  a bar  against  all  information,  which  is  proof  against  all  argument, 

AND  WHICH  CANNOT  FAIL  TO  KEEP  A MAN  IN  EVERLASTING  IGNORANCE.  Tills  PRINCIPLE  IS, 

contempt  prior  to  examination.” — Dr.  Daley. 


0~  XE  of  the  greatest  farces  enacted  by  any  man  or  set  of  men,  is  that  one  very  frequently 
enacted  by  boards  of  education  and  other  committees  having  in  charge  the  construction  of 
public  buildings.  Yet,  I do  not  know  that  they  are  entirely  at  fault,  nor  am  I sure  that  I can 
make  plain  a better  method  than  the  one  usually  adopted.  They  generally  know  little  or 
nothing  about  the  subject  of  warming  and  ventilating  or  of  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  in 
use  ; they  simply  know  that  they  must  buy  some  kind  of  a heater,  and  as  they  work  without  pay 
can  give  but  little  attention  to  the  matter.  They  postpone  the  letting  of  the  contract  as  long  as 
possible,  then  invite  bids,  get  themselves  in  position  to  be  talked  to  by  the  “agents”  allowing  each 
“ agent” — say  thirty  minutes  to  teach  them  all  he  knows  upon  the  subject.  (Ample  time  I admit 
for  the  majority  to  tell  all  they  know  of  the  matter,  if  we  may  judge  of  their  knowledge  by  their 
works  ! ! ) But  suppose  there  is  among  those  who  bid  on  the  work  to  be  done  a careful,  com- 
petent, conservative  and  experienced  engineer,  who  has  given  a score  of  years  to  the  learning  of 
the  business,  who  has  had  several  hundred  buildings  under  his  personal  supervision,  and  who  is 
honest  enough  to  acknowledge  that  he  has  made  many  mistakes  in  the  past  and  is  anxious  to 
avoid  them  in  the  future,  and  who  may  have  spent  from  §200  to  §500  in  preparing  plans  and 
estimates  on  the  building  under  consideration,  and  who  may  have  discovered  serious  errors  in 
original  construction  or  in  the  plans  prepared  by  the  architect;  errors  which  if  not  corrected 
would,  to  his  positive  knowledge,  cause  a failure,  no  matter  what  apparatus  might  be  used.  Can 
he  in  thirty  minutes  time  explain  all  these  details  and  teach  the  committee  a business  it  has 
taken  him  years  to  learn,  or  make  clear  to  them  a set  of  plans  it  may  have  taken  him  two  weeks 
to  design  ? Manifestly  not.  It  is  preposterous  to  suppose  he  could,  and  especially  if  he  be  met 
with  and  have  to  deny  or  explain  a lot  of  statements  that  some  “agent  ” or  visionary  “ salesman  ” 
may  have  presented  to  the  committee  before  his  appearance.  They  (the  “agents”)  may  have  told 
the  committee  that  away  down  in  some  obscure  corner  of  some  distant  state,  “ away  back  when 
Adam  was  a boy,”  the  Ruttan  System  was  a failure,  and  that  the  systems  used  by  all  others  than 
themselves  had  “been  used  by  the  Chinese  four  thousand  years  ago.”  And  after  answering  all 
these  statements,  how  much  time  is  left  him  of  this  “thirty  minutes”  in  which  to  explain  to  the 
committee  who  cast  the  vote,  and  of  whom  perhaps  not  more  than  two  or  three  know  the 
difference  between  a plan  of  a building  and  a map  of  Europe.  How  much  time  I say  has  the 
engineer  left  to  explain  his  methods  as  represented  probably  by  an  expensive  set  of  drawings 
absolutely  necessary  to  the  proper  execution  of  the  contract  ? First-class  work  in  any  line  always 
costs  more  than  second  or  fourth-class,  and  as  it  is  fair  to  suppose  that  the  student  knows  more 
than  he  who  has  never  studied , it  is  as  fair  to  presume  that  a carefully  prepared  estimate  is 
higher  than  one  that  is  “guessed  at.” 

I can  assure  the  reader  that  it  is  often  mighty  up-hill  work  to  get  a majority  vote  for  the 
best  apparatus  from  the  wise  men  who  have  devoted  possibly  three  hours  to  the  question.  I was 
recently  given  an  hour  in  which  to  answer  the  arguments  (?)  of  four  “salesmen,”  three  of  whom 
had  never  warmed  a building  one-third  the  size  of  the  one  under  consideration,  and  to  explain  a 


NORTH COTT  STINK,  KLMIKA,  N.  V. 


2!) 


set  of  plans  it  had  cost  me  §200  to  prepare  (no  designs  had  been  submitted  by  the  others).  I 
was  also  asked  to  make  plain  to  these  wise  men  why  my  bid,  on  which  there  was  not  a profit  to 
exceed  ten  per  cent,  was  over  §4,000  higher  than  any  of  the  others  submitted  and  more  than  §0,000 
more  than  the  lowest.  It  could  not  be  done , and  I refused  to  attempt  it,  and  the  cheapest  apparatus 
was  voted  in  by  the  executive  committee,  but  the  vote  was  afterwards  reconsidered  and,  owing 
to  the  earnest,  honest  efforts  of  a few  members,  faithful  to  the  best  interests  of  those  who  would 
be  obliged  to  occupy  the  building  (a  state  university),  the  contract  was  awarded  to  me.  There 
are  many  “agents  ” running  around  the  country  selling  “hot-air  furnaces”  and  steam  fixtures 
whose  stock  argument  is  that  someone  else  has  made  a failure  somewhere  (and  that  generally  a 
long  distance  off),  and  who  know  no  more  about  the  business  of  successful  engineering  than  the 
average  “quack”  who  hawks  “patent  medicine”  about  the  country  knows  of  surgery.  No 
matter  how  the  building  may  have  been  planned  and  constructed,  “it  is  all  right,”  and  all  the 
occupant  requires  to  complete  his  happiness  is  the  possession  of  their  “ Eureka  ” or  “ Florida.” 
“Any  hardware  dealer  or  steamfftter  can  set  it  in  position,  and  any  ten  year  old  boy  can  manage 
it,  and  no  matter  what  the  quantity  of  fuel  used  the  result  will  be  the  same!”  They  will 
recommend,  say  a 50-inch  furnace  for  a residence  containing  20,000  cubic  feet,  and  two  of  the 
same  size  for  a church  or  opera  house  containing  200,000  cubic  feet,  and  of  course  in  the  latter 
instance  there  can  be  but  one  result  and  that,  failure.  Now  I have,  and  at  a considerable  length, 
stated  the  condition  of  affairs  as  they  exist,  and  the  reader  would  like  some  recommendation  as 
to  the  course  to  be  pursued  by  a committee  who  wish  to  avoid  the  errors  referred  to.  I can  only 
urge  investigation / honest,  careful  investigation.  The  principles  governing  the  question  of 
warming  and  ventilating  are  easily  understood,  but  the  reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  the 
successful  application  of  these  principles  depends  upon  the  knowledge  and  skill  of  the  engineer 
in  charge  of  the  work,  and  his  knowledge  and  skill  depends  largely  upon  his  experience.  Con- 
cerning this,  the  customer  must  decide,  and  it  is  for  this  reason  I have  presented  for  consideration 
a large  amount  of  evidence  attesting  the  success  of  the  work  I have  done.  I do  not  claim  that 
in  an  experience  of  twenty  years  I have  made  no  mistakes,  either  in  construction  or  estimates. 
I have  made  many , but  never  the  same  one  twice  to  my  knowledge,  and  have  corrected  all  at  mg 
own  expense,  whenever  possible  for  me  to  do  so. 

ISAAC  D.  SMEAD, 

II  arming  and  Ventilating  Engineer. 


30 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


STEAM  HEATING 


THE  RUTTAN-SMEAD  SYSTEM. 


WING  to  the  general  failure  of  “ Hot  Air  Furnaces”  for  warming  large  buildings,  and  to  the  fact  that 


\J  enough  steam  pipe  can  be  put  into  a building  to  make  it  hot,  some  who  have  observed  the  working  o{ 
both,  and  who  have  never  seen  the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of  Ventilation,  or  the  Ruttan-Smead  Air  Warm- 
ers, have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Steam  Heating  is  the  only  successful  method  in  operation.  After  an 
experience  of  nearly  twenty  years,  and  an  opportunity  to  test  in  over  fifteen  hundred  buildings,  we  do  not  hesitate 
to  state  the  following  reasons  why,  for  the  warming  and  ventilation  of  School  Buildings,  Opera  Houses, 
Churches,  Jails  and  Private  Dwellings,  the  Ruttan-Smead  Air  Warmers  are  better  than  any  Steam  Heating 
apparatus  yet  invented. 

1.  Because  .ne  first  cost  of  the  Ruttan-Smead  is  from  one-third  to  two-thirds  less  than  for  first-class 
Steam  Heating. 

2.  Expense  for  fuel  is  from  one-third  to  three-fifths  less. 

3.  Expense  for  janitor  to  care  for  the  Ruttan-Smead  is  about  one-half  less  than  for  engineer  to  care  for 
Steam  apparatus. 

4.  Thorough  ventilation  in  a school  room  cannot  be  secured  with  Steam  apparatus,  at  anything  like  a 
reasonable  cost,  and  is  not  secured  at  all  where  direct  radiation  is  used,  and  never,  either  with  direct  or 
indirect,  when  temperature  outside  of  building  is  12°  below  zero. 

5.  There  is  no  possible  danger  from  explosion  with  the  Air  Warmers,  while  with  Steam  there  is  constant 
danger,  whether  the  pressure  be  “ high  ” or  “ low.” 

6.  There  are  no  water  pipes  to  freeze,  burst,  and  let  water  all  through  the  building,  ruining  plaster  and 
furniture. 

7.  Repairs  for  Steam  Boilers,  pumps  and  Pipes,  will  cost  in  ten  years  ten  limes  as  much  as  for  the  Ruttan, 
and  must  always  be  made  by  a skilled  steam-fitter,  while  any  janitor  who  is  competent  to  sweep  a room,  can 
replace  broken  or  worn-out  castings  in  the  Air  Warmers. 

8.  The  Ruttan-Smead  will  warm  and  ventilate  a building  during  any  kind  of  weather,  no  matter  how  hard 
the  wind  blows  or  how  low  the  mercury,  while  Steam  contractors  will  seldom  guarantee  with  mercury  12°  below  zero. 

9.  The  Ruttan-Smead  Air  Warmers  are  set  in  connection  with  strong  and  important  patents,  on  a plan  of 
ventilation  that  no  Steam  contractor  can  use. 

10.  Because  with  the  Ruttan-Smead  a building  can  be  warmed  in  one  hour  from  the  time  fires  are  fairly 
burning,  while  from  four  to  six  hours  are  required  with  Steam  apparatus. 

11.  Three-fifths  of  the  force  generated  by  the  burning  fuel  in  Steam  apparatus  is  lost  in  the  form  of 
mechanical  motion,  and  does  not  appear  as  temperature  in  the  rooms,  while  with  the  Ruttan  seven-eighths 
appears  in  room  as  temperature,  and  one-eighth  only  is  lost. 

12.  With  the  Ruttan-Smead  absolute  uniformity  of  temperature  can  be  secured  throughout  a building, 
while  with  Steam  Heating  apparatus  rooms  a distance  from  the  boiler  are  generally  from  ten  to  fifteen  degrees 
colder  during  cold  and  windy  weather. 


Sf  r3rvwbndgt/Mtf>  'ffltdo,  0 


STOVE  HEATING. 

The  Lady  is  too  warm,  and  has  lowered  the  window  from  the  top  to  remedy  the  difficulty. 
Children  often  suffer  by  being  in  the  stratum  of  cold  air  near  the  floor,  while  the  heads  of 
their  mothers,  or  nurse's,  or  teachers,  are  in  a higher  and  hotter  stratum.  This  is  the  condi- 
tion of  school  rooms  heated  by  .stores  or  steam  coils. 


EXPLANATION  OF  LITHOGRAPHS. 


DURING  the  past  few  years  much  lias  been  said  and  written  upon  the  subject  of  heating,  each 
manufacturer  of  apparatus  claiming  his  to  be  the  best.  That  the  public  may  clearly  under- 
stand the  different  methods,  and  thus  be  enabled  to  easily  decide  which  plan  to  adopt,  I have,  at 
a great  expense,  published  the  cuts  on  pages  31,  32,  33  and  34,  showing  the  exact  condition  ol  aii 
in  rooms  under  all  plans , viz.  : Grates,  Stoves,  Steam  Coils,  and  warm  air  from  a fmnace.  lhe 
red  represents  the  warm  air,  and  the  gray  the  cold  air.  Cut  “ I represents  the  ventilation  of  a 
room  directly  into  a Hue  through  a register  (at  base  of  room),  or  it  may  be  done  through  an  open 
grate.  This  is  the  plan  we  usually  adopt  when  called  upon  to  warm  and  ventilate  an  old  building, 
as  it  is  not  always  either  convenient  or  possible  to  exhaust  the  air  from  the  room  nuclei  the  flooi, 
as  shown  in  cut  “ G.”  The  plan  represented  in  cut  “ G”  can  always  be  successfully  introduced  m 
a building  during  its  construction,  and  the  floors  warmed  by  the  heat  that  is  lost , where  the  ventila- 
tion is  direct.  Under  no  circumstances  do  we  ever  permit  t he  use  of  our  Heating  Apparatus  except 
in  connection  with  one  of  these  plans,  as  shown  in  cuts  “ F ’ and  “ G.  It  is  hardly  possible  to 
exactly  represent  on  paper  a substance  that  cannot  be  seen  (air)  and  especially  to  represent  it  in 
its  almost  constant  condition — motion.  The  especial  object  of  these  lithographs  is  to  represent 
the  position  of  air  at  different  temperatures,  as  indicated  by  thermometer. 

Note— We  desire  to  call  especial  attention  to  the  fact  that  in  the  recommendation  of  the  passing  of  warm 
air  under  floors,  as  shown  in  cut  “ G,”  we  refer  only  to  passing  it  under  floor  after  its  use  in  the  room  and  do 
not  recommend  the  wild  scheme  of  those  who  would  pass  the  warm  air  directly  from  furnace  to  the  space 
under  the  floor,  as  we  do  not  consider  the  latter  plan  free  from  danger  of  taking  fire,  while  the  one  we  do  recom- 
mend is  entirely  free  from  all  objections,  and  results  in  a saving  of  fuel  of  about  one-third  over  direct  ventila- 
tion, as  nearly' all  the  heat  contained  in  the  exhausting  air  is  imparted  to  the  floor,  while  in  direct  ventilation 
all  the  heat  is  lost  as  soon  as  the  air  passes  through  ventilating  register. 

31 


Register  closed  to  keep  warm,  and  no  other  means  provided  for  the  escape  of  anyth 
room  soon  becomes  pressed  fall  of  hot  air,  producing  much  headache,  discomfort  and 
and  furnace  heating  condemned.  This  is  the  present  condition  of  most  rooms  in  winter, 

WHERE  HOT-AIR  FURNACES  ARE  USED. 


This  is  better ; the  register  is  open  and  relieves  the  room  of  cold  and  bad  air  down  to 
that  point,  but  still  leaves  a stratum  of  cold,  foul  air  at  the  floor,  causing  the  frequent 
complaint  of  cold  feet  and  hot  heads. 


32 


WARMING  BY  AN  OPEN  FIRE. 


PUBLISHED  m 

Stink  &.  C 


cov-0 


DIRECT  RADIATION  — ( Exclusively .)  Feet  cold  and  head  loo  hot. 


Owing  to  the  common  mistaken  belief  that  the  breath  rise&pffienings  are  generally  made  at  the  top  of 
the  room,  but  as  they  let  all  the  rearm  air  out  and  leave  the  occupied  portions  cold  and  foul,  they 
are  always  closed  in  winter,  and  consequently  such  ventilation  (?)  has  well  earned  the  reputa- 
tion of  humbug. 


CORRECT  WHEN  HEATING  AND  VENTILATING  BY  WARM  AIR.  Tbe  abOVC  plan  can  be 

built  into  buildings  already  constructed,  and  successfully  too,  provided  there  is  some 
one  in  charge  who  knows  how  to  do  it. 


By  this  plan  the  floors  are  warmed,  and  only  one  Ventilating  Chimney  is  necessary.  The 
above  also  represents  Isaac  D.  Sinead’s  system  of  “continuous  ventilation”  referred  to  on 
pages  21,  75  and  76. 

34 


XORTIICOTT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  ROOK  PUBLISHED  IN  1802. 


li  Y H ON.  HENRY  R U T T A N 


t LTHOUGH  a pioneer  upon  ventilation  upon  the  “exhaustion  principle,”  I cannot  of  course  expect 
J\  entire  immunity  from  criticism.  In  extenuation,  however,  and  in  justification  of  myself,  I am 
bound  to  say  that  such  has  been  the  lengthened  period  of  time  which  has  elapsed — more  than  nineteen 
yrears — since  I first  engaged  in  my  experiments  upon  the  subject,  and  I have,  in  some  minor  points,  been  so 
•closely  followed  up,  that  my  first  suggestions  have,  and  may  now  perhaps,  properly  be  considered  old.  I have 
no  doubt  but  that  some  may  be  surprised  to  hear  me  call  them  my  inventions ; yet  if  those  who  question 
their  originality  as  claimed  by  me  will  but  think  back  to  the  year  L843,  they  will  fail  to  find  at  that  period 
.any  traces  of  the  points  in  question  originating  anywhere  except  by  me.  However,  I am  not  jealous  or 
envious  upon  this  subject;  I am  only  too  glad  to  find  that  the  subject  of  ventilation  has  been  progressing. 
I only  demand  that  the  credit  upon  points  to  which  I allude  shall  be  given  where  it  is  due. 

After  many  years  of  hard  work,  and  the  expenditure  of  thousands  of  dollars,  I venture  to  launch  forth 
the  result  of  my  experiments  in  relation  to  the  warming  and  ventilation  of  buildings. 

Having  read  everything  that  I could  lay  my  hand  upon  regarding  the  subject,  and  predicating  my 
experiments  upon  the  information  thus  obtained,  I invariably,  at  the  end  of  each  experiment,  found  myself 
at  fault,  and  just  as  far  from  accomplishing  the  object  I had  in  view  as  ever,  producing  nothing  more  than 
had  been  obtained  before  me,  until  at  last  I gave  it  up. 

Still  revolving  the  subject  in  my  mind  I was  struck  with  the  similarity  of  idea  running  through  the 
principle  which  so  many  learned  men  had  adopted.  So  eminently  is  this  the  case,  that  when  a person  has 
read  one  of  these  authors,  he  has,  so  far  as  regards  the  principle  of  a natural  process  of  ventilation,  read 
them  all ; and  this  is  readily  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  nearly  all  these  men  lived  in  the  Old  Country, 
where  they  have  a comparatively  mild  climate,  and  'where  a system  graduated  to  that  climate  was  needed. 
Living,  as  I did,  in  a cold  climate,  my  object  was  to  work  out  a plan  which  would  not  only  secure  a change 
of  air,  but  also  insure  warmth  and  an  equalized  temperature. 

Now,  here  was  an  entirely  new  field,  which  no  one  had  trodden  before  me ; the  warming  as  well  as 
the  ventilation  of  a building,  in  a cold  climate,  by  natural  means,  and  by  one  and  the  same  process.  So, 
throwing  aside  my  books,  I resumed  the  experiments,  and  soon  found  that  no  natural  process  of  warming 
and  ventilation  could  be  produced  unless  natural  laws  were  obeyed  throughout;  that  we  could  not  bend 
these  to  our  wills,  nor  in  any  one  jot  or  tittle  contravene  them  with  impunity. 

Several  reasons  may  be  assigned  why  we  have  never  yet,  in  the  colder  parts  of  America,  attained  to  t he 
system  of  ventilation ; I say  the  system,  because  there  can  be  but  one.  The  fact  is  that  our  experimenters 
hitherto  have  never  made  any  distinction  in  the  climates  of  different  countries,  but  have  derived  their 
ideas  from  what  has  been  said  and  done  in  Europe,  which,  however  applicable  they  may  have  been  in 
those  countries,  are  in  many  cases  worse  than  useless  when  applied  to  the  northern  parts  of  this 
continent. 

Another  reason  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  our  architects,  also  copying  from  the  books  written  in 
the  milder  countries  of  Europe,  where  little  provision  for  either  warming  or  ventilation  was  required,  have 
never  considered  themselves  responsible  for  either,  and  therefore  have  never  turned  their  attention  to  the 
study  of  either. 

A third  reason,  and  one  which  has  operated  more  powerfully  against  it  than  either  of  the  preceding,  is 
the  ignorance  wrhich  has  hitherto  prevailed  as  to  its  necessity.  This,  however,  is  now  rapidly  giving  way 
before  the  light  which  has  of  late  years  been  shed  upon  the  subject ; and  I think  a continuation  of  the  same 
views  will  soon  consummate  its  complete  overthrow. 

The  chief  thing  now  required  to  the  general  adoption  of  a system  of  warming  and  ventilation,  by 
proprietors  of  buildings,  is  persons  who  will  carry  it  out.  For  this  purpose  it  is  necessary  that  our  architects 
and  builders  should  learn  how;  and  however  presumptuous  it  may  appear  to  those  gentlemen  for  me,  as  a 
non-professional  man,  to  attempt  to  teach  them,  nevertheless  that  is  the  object  I have  in  view  in  publishing 


36 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


this  book.  We  must  have  men,  such  as  we  never  had  before — architects  and  builders  for  a cold  climate. 
They  must  learn  to  provide  the  building  with  lungs,  for  unless  it  breathes  the  inmates  cannot  breathe. 
A man  might  as  well  trust  to  the  pores  of  his  body  as  channels  through  which  to  obtain  the  requisite  supply 
of  air,  as  for  a builder  or  family  to  trust  to  cracks  and  crevices,  or  the  occasional  opening  of  a door,  for 
purposes  of  ventilation. 

A man  may  be  what  is  called  a good  mechanic— he  may  form  a piece  of  work  after  a model,  and  make 
what  is  called  a “good  job,”  by  manual  labor  alone;  but  he  will  never  become  a master  in  his  trade  or 
calling  whose  powers  of  mind  have  no  part  in  the  performance.  He  must  look  into  the  reason  of  things  ; 
he  must  exercise  and  accustom  his  mind  to  comprehend — to  grasp  the  whole  subject,  of  which  every  stroke 
he  strikes,  or  every  stone  or  brick  he  lays,  is  but  an  infinitesimally  small  part.  It  is  such  a person,  and  such 
only,  who  ought  ever  to  be  permitted  to  meddle  with  the  ventilation  of  our  buildings. 

Knowing  the  distrust  with  which  all  new  ideas  are  received,  of  course  I cannot  expect  entire  immunity 
from  those  whose  prejudices  have,  by  long  custom  and  habit,  become  so  fixed  as  to  be  utterly  ineradicable; 
but  from  the  young  architect  and  builder,  and  from  citizens  generally,  I hope  fora  fair,  honest  and  candid 
trial,  and  mv  confidence  that  I shall  receive  it,  is  strengthened  by  the  multiplied  indications  of  progress  by 
which  we  are  all  surrounded.  It  is  to  this  class,  therefore,  that  I more  especially  address  myself. 

OUR  SENSES. 

It  must  seem  to  many  an  apprentice,  brick -layer  and  joiner,  a strange  proceeding  for  me  to  attempt  to 
convert  him  to  a new  theory,  by  first  attacking  his  senses  of  hearing,  seeing,  feeling  and  smelling,  by  the 
statement  that  they  are  all  at  fault,  and  that  none  of  them  are  to  be  depended  upon  ! Yet  I can  assure  him 
that  such  is  actually  the  case,  and  that  in  this  inquiry  he  will  invariably  be  led  astray  if  he  places  any 
confidence  in  them,  irrespective  of  the  philosophical  examination  of  the  laws  of  nature. 

Of  all  the  means,  says  Dr.  Lardner,  of  estimating  physical  effects,  the  most  obvious,  and  those  upon 
which  mankind  place  the  strongest  confidence,  are  the  senses.  The  eye,  the  ear  and  the  touch,  are 
appealed  to  by  the  whole  world  as  the  unerring  witness  of  the  presence  or  absence,  the  qualities  and  degrees 
of  light  and  color,  sound  and  heat;  but  these  witnesses,  when  submitted  to  the  scrutiny  of  reason,  and 
cross-examined,  so  to  speak,  become  involved  in  inexplicable  confusion  and  contradiction,  and  speedily 
stand  self-convicted  of  palpable  falsehood.  Not  only  are  our  organs  of  sensation  not  the  best  witnesses  to 
which  we  can  appeal  for  exact  information  of  the  qualities  of  the  objects  which  surround  us,  but  they  are  the 
most  fallible  guides  which  can  be  selected.  Not  only  do  they  fail  in  declaring  the  qualities  or  degrees  of  the 
physical  principles  to  which  they  are  by  nature  severally  adapted,  but  they  often  inform  us  of  the  presence 
of  a quality  which  is  absent,  and  of  the  absence  of  a quality  which  is  present. 

The  organs  of  sense  were  never  designed  by  nature  as  instruments  of  scientific  inquiry  ; and  had  they 
been  so  constituted  they  would  probably  have  been  unfit  for  the  ordinary  purposes  of  life.  It  is  well 
observed  by  Locke  “that  an  eye  adapted  to  discover  the  intimate  constitution  of  the  atoms  which  form  the 
hand  of  a clock,  might  be,  from  the  very  nature  of  its  mechanism,  incapable  of  informing  its  owner  of  the 
hour  indicated  by  the  same  hand.” 

The  term  heat,  in  its  ordinary  acceptation,  is  used  to  express  a feeling  or  sensation  which  is  produced  in 
us  when  we  touch  a hot  body.  We  say  that  the  heat  of  a body  is  more  or  less  intense,  according  to  the  degree 
in  which  the  feeling  or  sensation  is  produced  in  us.  The  touch  by  which  we  acquire  the  perception  of  heat, 
like  the  eye,  ear  and  other  organs,  is  endowed  with  a sensibility  confined  within  certain  limits;  and  even 
within  these,  we  do  not  possess  any  exact  power  of  perceiving  or  measuring  the  degree  or  quality  by  which 
the  sense  is  effected.  If  we  take  two  heavy  bodies  in  the  hand,  we  shall  in  many  cases  be  able  to  declare 
that  one  is  heavier  than  the  other,  but  in  what  degree,  or  how  much,  our  senses  fail  to  inform  us. 

If  we  look  at  two  objects,  differently  illuminated,  we  shall,  in  the  same  way,  be  in  some  cases  able  to 
declare  which  is  the  more  splendid,  but  the  exact  difference  in  the  illumination  we  shall  be  unable  to  decide. 
It  is  the  same  with  heat.  If  the  temperature  of  two  bodies  be  very  different,  the  touch  will  sometimes  inform 
us  which  is  the  hotter;  but  if  they  be  nearly  equal,  we  shall  be  unable  to  decide  which  has  the  greater  and 
which  the  less  temperature. 

Feeling  can  never  inform  us  of  the  quantity  of  heat  which  a body  contains,  much  less  the  relative  quan- 
tities contained  in  two  bodies.  Heat,  in  its  latent  state,  can  never  be  felt  at  all ; for  example,  ice-cold  water 
and  ice  appear  to  be  of  the  same  temperature,  but  the  difference  is  considerable. 

If  we  hold  the  hand  in  water  which  has  a temperature  of  about  90°,  after  the  agitation  shall  have  ceased 
we  become  wholly  insensible  of  its  presence,  and  shall  be  unconscious  that  the  hand  is  in  contact  with  any 
body  whatever.  We  shall  of  course  be  altogether  unconscious  of  the  temperature  of  the  water.  Having 
held  both  hands  in  this,  let  us  remove  the  one  to  water  of  a temperature  of  200°,  and  the  other  to  water  of  32°. 
After  holding  the  hands  for  some  time  in  this  manner,  let  them  both  be  removed  and  again  inserted  in  the 
water  at  90°,  and  immediately  we  shall  become  sensible  of  warmth  in  the  one  and  cold  in  the  other.  If, 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


therefore,  the  touch  be  in  this  case  taken  as  the  evidence  of  temperature,  the  same  water  will  be  judged  to 
be  hot  and  cold  at  the  same  time. 

If  in  the  heat  of  summer,  we  descend  into  a cave,  we  are  sensible  of  cold  ; but  if  in  winter,  we  have  a 
sensation  of  warmth.  Now,  a thermometer  suspended  in  the  cave  will  always  show  the  same  temperature. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  sensation  of  heat  depends  as  much  upon  the  state  of  our  own  bodies  as  upon  the 
several  agencies  which  excite  the  sensation.  If  we  step  out  of  a warm  bath  into  air  at  the  same  temperature, 
we  shall  experience  a sensation  of  coldness,  because  air  being  a more  rare  and  attenuated  substance,  a less 
number  of  its  particles  are  in  contact  with  the  body. 

If  we  step  into  a room  of  a high  temperature,  say  120°,  the  carpet  will  feel  cool,  and  the  tiles  of  the  hearth 
or  chimney-piece  will  be  insupportably  hot.  If  we  enter  a room  of  low  temperature,  say  32°,  the  reverse  is 
the  case  — the  carpet  will  feel  warm  and  the  tiles  and  chimney-piece  cold,  yet  the  temperature  is  the  same. 
If  we  wrap  a thermometer  in  a blanket,  and  lay  another  upon  a piece  of  marble,  in  a room  of  any  tempera- 
ture, the  indications  will  be  the  same  in  both  cases,  yet  to  the  touch  the  two  bodies  will  be  very  different  — 
the  one  will  feel  cold  and  the  other  warm. 

The  air  of  a room  has  to  our  sight  no  color,  yet  we  know  it  is  blue.  We  knowr  that  the  sea  is  green,  yet 
there  is  not  the  slightest  indication  of  color  in  a glass  full  of  the  water.  If,  as  we  have  seen,  we  remove  our 
hands  from  water  at  200°,  to  that  which  is  at  a temperature  of  100°,  it  feels  cold,  yet  we  know  it  i,s  warm.  If 
therefore,  the  senses  of  seeing  and  feeling,  and  in  fact  all  others,  are  so  imperfect,  or  rather,  I should  say 
such  erring  guides,  is  it  not  reasonable  that  in  all  matters  relating  to  our  health  we  should  have  recourse 
to  sources  of  information  other  than  those  which  we  know  may  lead  us  astray  ? 

Of  all  the  organs  of  sense,  that  whose  nervous  mechanism  appears  to  be  the  most  easily  deadened  by 
excessive  action  is  that  of  smelling.  The  most  delightful  odors  can  only  be  enjoyed  occasionally,  and  for 
short  intervals.  The  scent  of  the  rose,  or  the  still  more  delicate  odor  of  the  magnolia,  can  be  but  fleeting 
pleasures,  and  are  destined  only  for  occasional  enjoyment.  He  who  lives  in  a garden  cannot  smell  a rose, 
and  the  wood-cutter  in  the  southern  forests  is  insensible  to  the  odor  of  the  magnolia. 

Persons  who  indulge  in  the  use  of  artificial  scents  soon  cease  to  be  conscious  of  their  presence,  and  can 
only  stimulate  their  jaded  organs  by  continually  changing  the  objects  of  their  enjoyment. 

But  every  day’s  experience  must  convince  the  most  careless  observer  how  little  dependence  can  be 
placed  upon  the  sense  of  smell.  We  move  into  a new  tenement,  for  instance,  and  we  are  at  once  sensible  of 
a difference  of  smell ; but  in  a very  few  days  we  become  accustomed  and  perfectly  insensible  to  it.  We  walk 
into  a different  apartment  of  the  same  building  even,  perhaps  our  own,  and  we  are  distinctly  sensible  of  a 
peculiarity  of  odor,  but  which  soon  passes  away  if  we  remain  in  the  room.  We  notice  the  loathing  with 
which  a person  enters  one  of  our  prisons;  in  a few  days,  however,  he  ceases  to  complain.  Pass  from  the  pure 
air  into  an  unventilated  bedroom  which  has  been  occupied  the  night  previous  by  a lodger,  and  you  at  once 
become  sensible  of  an  almost  intolerable  smell,  yet  the  person  who  occupied  it  was  unable  to  detect  anything 
of  the  sort.  It  is  just  so  in  the  case  of  badly  ventilated  houses- — the  inmates  soon  become  so  accustomed  to 
the  foul  air  they  are  continually  breathing,  that  it  is  an  almost  hopeless  task  to  convince  them  that  it  is  any- 
thing but  the  most  pure.  In  short,  such  is  the  uncertainty  of  our  organs,  that,  delicate  and  refined  as  they 
may  be,  if  our  health  depended  solely  upon  their  indications,  they  would  be  worse  than  useless  to  the  human 
family. 

It  is  indeed  wisely  ordered  that  our  organs  of  sense  should  be  constituted  for  active  and  practical  use, 
rather  than  that  they  should,  by  the  delicacy  or  grossness  of  their  sensation,  render  us  miserable;  and  it  is 
especially  so  with  the  eye.  It  has  already  been  observed  that  the  eye,  which  was  capable  of  discovering  the 
atoms  of  which  the  hands  of  a clock  are  composed,  would  fail  to  inform  us  of  the  hour  indicated  by  the  same 
hand.  It  may  be  added  that  a pair  of  telescopic  eyes,  which  would  discover  the  molecules  and  population  of 
a distant  planet,  would  ill  requite  the  spectator  for  the  loss  of  that  rude  power  of  vision  necessary  to  guide 
his  steps  through  the  city  he  inhabits,  and  to  recognize  the  friends  who  surround  him. 

But,  although  no  dependence  can  be  placed  upon  the  manifestations  of  our  senses  as  to  what  may  be 
good  or  evil,  useful  or  injurious,  yet  the  Almighty  has  endowed  man  with  a mind,  and  a capacity  to  investi- 
gate, scientifically,  all  subjects  connected  with  his  physical  existence;  and  this  he  is  as  much  bound  to  do  as 
he  is  to  investigate  those  laws  which  are  placed  before  us  as  a guide  in  our  moral  existence. 

If,  therefore,  by  ordinary  observation,  we  cannot  see  the  contaminations  of  the  atmosphere  we  breathe, 
or  detect  its  fetid  odor,  this  is  no  more  a reason  why  Ave  should  set  at  defiance  all  experience,  both  personal 
and  scientific,  than  it  would  be  for  a man  who  would  swallow  a poisonous  drug  merely  because  he  could 
perceive  no  difference,  either  in  color  or  substance,  between  it  and  a cup  of  tea. 

With  these  facts  before  us,  establishing  most  clearly  the  fallibility  of  our  senses,  and  their  liability  to 
lead  us  astray,  it  obviously  becomes  necessary  for  us  to  go  to  some  other  source  for  reliable  knowledge  in 
relation  to  the  subject  in  hand.  We  find  this  knowledge  furnished  by  science  in  its  interpretation  of-natural 
phenomena;  so  let  us  go  to  that  with  our  minds  divested  of  all  prejudice,  and  with  a firm  determination  to 
seek  only  after  truth. 


3S 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


WHAT  VENTILATION  IS. 

Ventilation  is  said  to  be  of  two  kinds — natural  and  mechanical.  With  the  latter  mode  we  have  nothing 
to  do,  as,  even  were  it  the  better  way,  it  can  never,  from  its  expensiveness,  be  made  available  for  the 
“million,” — which  is  the  great  object  I have  in  view.  It  would  be  no  difficult  matter,  however,  to  show  that 
mechanical  ventilation  can  never  be  made  as  effectual  as  a natural  or  spontaneous  ventilation.  It  obtained 
in  an  early  period,  before  the  natural  laws  which  govern  the  motions  of  air  were  inquired  into;  and  such  is 
the  effect  of  the  prejudice  and  ignorance  derived  from  those  times,  that  it  is  still  extant  in  England,  and 
America  also,  to  some  extent.  In  this  mode  fans,  blowers,  pumps,  etc.,  are  set  in  motion  by  steam  or  any 
other  convenient  power,  and  the  air  propelled  or  drawn  in  such  direction  and  quantity  as  may  be  required. 

The  ventilation  of  a building  is  ordinarily  accepted  to  be  the  removal  of  the  foul  air  from  within,  and 
its  replenishment  by  pure  air  from  without.  This  is  true  so  far  as  it  goes,  but  several  other  points,  of 
hardly  less  importance,  must  be  taken  into  account  also.  We  must  not  only  effect  a change  of  air,  but  in 
our  climate,  and  particularly  in  the  winter,  the  requisite  temperature  must  be  imparted  to  it,  and  it  must  be 
moved  through  the  building  in  such  a manner  that  currents  of  all  sorts  shall  be  avoided  as  far  as  possible. 

Our  dwelling  stands  at  the  bottom  of  an  ocean  of  air  forty  miles  deep.  We  erect  brick,  stone  or  wooden 
walls  about  us,  and  therefore  we  must  find  means  to  get  so  much  of  this  ocean  of  air  through  the  building  as 
may  be  sufficient  for  our  purpose.  By  opening  windows,  doors  or  other  apertures  on  opposite  sides  of  our 
house  we  can  probably  get  a current  of  air  through  the  building  at  certain  points.  Now,  even  if  we  could 
stand  this  in  stormy  or  winter  weather,  and  by  night  and  day,  still  it  would  not  be  ventilation,  because  there 
would  be  only  a partial  removal  or  change  of  air.  Every  particle  and  atom  of  air  must  go  out,  or  of  course  the 
process  is  not  perfect.  Currents  of  air,  however,  through  a building,  even  if  they  would  change  the  air 
(which  they  certainly  cannot  do,  be  the  process  ever  so  ingeniously  contrived),  cannot  be  tolerated  in  this 
cold  climate,  especially  in  winter,  which  is  the  very  time  when  we  need  the  most  ventilation.  The  whole 
body  of  air  in  each  apartment  must  move  together,  and  every  local  current  necessary  to  its  motion  must  be  so  guarded 
and  concealed  that  no  inconvenience  can  be  fell  by  the  inmates. 


VENTILATION  OF  SCHOOL  ROOMS. 


It  is  usually  estimated  that  what  with  the  destruction  by  the  lungs  and  cutaneous  transpiration  and 
other  emanations  from  the  body,  every  child  will  contaminate,  so  as  to  render  it  unfit  for  healthy  breathing, 
seven  cubic  feet  per  minute.  A school-room,  40  by  20  feet  on  the  ground  and  eighteen  feet  high,  contains 
fourteen  thousand  four  hundred  cubic  feet,  so  that  in  about  twenty  minutes  one  hundred  pupils  will  con- 
taminate this  whole  body.  The  opening  of  a door  (or  two  doors,  if  they  are  both  on  one  side  or  one  end)  of 
a room  destitute  of  any  open  flue,  will  cause  no  change  of  the  air  in  such  room  to  speak  of;  because,  if  the 
air  cannot  get  out  it  cannot  come  in  a room ; but  we  will  allow,  from  this  cause  and  from  the  air  which 
comes  in  through  the  cracks  and  crevices,  one  cubic  foot  of  air  to  come  into  such  a room  every  minute. 
This  fourteen  hundred  and  forty  feet  every  twenty-four  hours  will  renew  the  air  only  once  in  ten  days,  so 
that  for  all  practical  purposes  the  ventilation  from  doors,  and  cracks,  and  crevices  amounts  to  nothing. 

If,  then,  the  whole  body  of  air  within  this  school  room  be  contaminated  in  twenty  minutes,  what  state 
must  the  air  be  in  at  the  end  of  even  one  day  of  eight  hours,  when  it  must  of  necessity  have  been  subjected 
to  the  same  deterioration  twenty -four  times ! What  at  the  end  of  one  /week  (the  same  body  of  air  having 
been  carefully  locked  up  every  night  for  use  the  next  day)  when  the  emanations  from  the  lungs  and  bodies 
of  these  hundred  children  will  have  been  added  144  times!  in  four  weeks,  576  times!  in  a twenty-weeks’ 
winter,  11,520  times  ! The  very  walls,  and  especially  the  ceiling,  of  such  a room  become  so  impregnated  as 
to  affect  visitors’  olfactories  to  such  an  extent  as  to  affect  the  stomach.  This  fact  is  within  the  experience 
of  all  persons  who  are  in  the  habit  of  occasionally  entering  an  old  school  house,  even  when  no  pupils  are 
within  it.  Such  appears  to  be  the  subtlety  of  this  poison  absorbed  by  the  walls,  ceiling  and  floor  of  a school 
room,  that  a whole  summer’s  sweep  of  air  through  it  has  no  perceptible  effect  in  its  extraction  ; the  very  day 
that  it  is  again  closed  up  for  the  winter  the  same  smell  of  corruption  is  just  as  apparent  as  the  year  before. 

“The  condensed  air  of  a crowded  room,”  says  one  of  our  first  chemists,  “ gives  a deposit  which,  if 
allowed  to  remain  a few  days,  forms  a solid,  thick  and  glutinous  mass,  having  a strong  odor  of  animal  matter. 
If  examined  by  a microscope,  it  is  seen  to  undergo  a remarkable  change.  First  of  all  it  is  changed  into  a 
vegetable  growth,  and  this  is  followed  by  the  production  of  multitudes  of  animalcule — a decisive  proof  that 
it  must  contain  organic  matter,  otherwise  it  could  not  nourish  organic  beings.” 

Dr.  Hiller,  Secretary  of  the  Metropolitan  Medical  Association,  says : 

“ In  consequence  of  the  ill  construction  and  bad  ventilation  of  the  school  houses  in  and  about  London, 
seven  thousand  children  between  the  ages  of  five  and  fifteen  years  annually  lose  their  lives  from  these 
causes  alone.” 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  V. 


39 


Hear,  again,  another  veteran  in  the  medical  profession  : 

“The  occupation  of  such  rooms  being  the  lot  of  the  larger  portion  of  the  rising  generation,  who  can 
wonder  that  our  race  is  degenerating  in  physical  powers?  Who  can  doubt  that  such  a state  of  things  pre- 
pares the  soil  and  sows  the  seeds  which  in  due  time  spring  up  into  that  luxuriant  harvest  of  ailments  and 
complaints  which  is  reaped  by  the  victims  of  our  school  rooms? 

“The  stupefying  effects  of  dark,  venous  blood  poured  through  the  brain  is  unhappily  most  apparent 
where  there  is  expected  to  be  the  highest  degree  of  mental  activity.  School  rooms  should  be  provided  with 
due  means  of  ventilation,  by  which  a constant  supply  of  pure  air  may  be  maintained;  the  inattention,  dull- 
ness and  sleepiness  of  pupils  are  but  the  natural  and  inevitable  consequences  of  taking  into  the  system  a 
vitiated  and  poisonous  atmosphere.  It  would  be  wise  for  teachers  who  are  afflicted  with  pupils  of  dull  and 
stupid  intellect  to  inquire  how  far  the  stimulus  of  pure  air  might  be  advantageously  substituted  for  flogging. 

“The  tender,  sensitive  child,  that  sits  and  reads  and  learns  his  lesson,  and  perhaps  cannot  learn  his 
lesson,  and  stupifies,  and  pines,  and  droops,  and  maybe  has  scarce  a smile  to  expect  when  his  task  is  done, 
yields  day  by  day  to  his  atmospheric  foes.  Day  by  day,  and  as  he  loses  the  first  start  of  life,  his  lungs  play 
less  freely,  his  blood  circulates  more  slowly,  his  chest  contracts,  his  limbs  pine  away,  his  digestion  is 
disordered,  and  before  long  he  is  delivered  over  to  the  tender  care  of  the  man  who  gallops  in  every  other 
day,  sends  whole  bales  of  pills  and  draughts,  and  soon  settles  either  the  life  or  the  constitution  of  his 
unfortunate  patient. 

“ It  is  needless  to  urge  that  danger  to  the  health  and  life  of  the  child  is  so  remote  and  trifling  as  to  be 
unworthy  of  consideration.  The  reverse  is  the  case.  Instances  are  constantly  occurring  in  which  the  seeds 
of  disease  are  gathered  in  the  close  and  polluted  air  of  the  school  room,  to  ripen  into  premature  decay  and 
an  early  death.  Many  parents  can  call  to  mind  the  frequent  complaints  of  their  children  who  have 
returned  from  school  rooms,  feverish  and  pale,  laboring  under  a depression  of  spirits  and  lassitude  of  body. 
A passing  emotion  of  compassion  may  have  attributed  their  appearance  to  confinement  and  study,  neither  of 
which  is  productive  of  evil  effects,  unless  accompanied  by  an  atmosphere  rank  with  impurity,  habits 
opposed  to  cleanliness  and  health,  and  a loss  of  comfort  and  necessary'  recreation. 

“ In  a school  room  with  no  means  of  ventilation,  and  containing  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  scholars,  the 
air  breathed  by  each  different  pair  of  lungs  loses  its  vital  properties,  and  becomes  loaded  with  the  impurities 
and  infections  thrown  off  from  numerous  systems.  To  contend  that  there  is  in  this  no  danger  to  the  health 
of  the  child  is  folly.  The  temporary  symptoms  of  suffering  may  disappear  with  the  habit  which  occasioned 
them,  but  the  tendencies  of  disease  linger  in  the  system,  awaiting  some  predisposing  cause  to  develop  their 
active  strength  and  hurry  their  victim  to  an  untimely  grave. 

“These  statements  are  no  exaggeration  of  the  evil,  for  exaggeration  is  impossible.  Still,  the  evil  is 
allowed  to  exist,  because  its  first  manifestations  are  not  in  a form  that  appalls  and  terrifies.  Its  approach  is 
slow  and  insidious;  the  operation  proceeds  in  secret.  At  length  the  frame,  racked  with  pain,  a mind 
debilitated,  unbalanced  or  diseased,  powers  of  usefulness  or  enjoyment  destroyed,  are  the  fatal  results  of  a 
few  years  spent  in  a crowded  and  heated  school  room.  For  all  these  consequences  the  prevention  is  of  the 
simplest  character.  The  most  ordinary  mechanical  contrivance  will  insure  pure  air  to  the  child  and 
happiness  to  the  man.  That  is  a costly  economy  which  sacrifices  sound  health  and  disregards  the  danger 
of  disease  to  save  a trifling  expense.” 

WINTER  VENTILATION  OF  A RAILWAY  CAR. 

An  ordinary  railway  carriage  contains  something  under  three  thousand  cubic  feet  of  air.  Supposing 
there  to  be  sixty  passengers  inside  of  this  vehicle,  and  that  by  the  lungs  and  the  cutaneous  and  other 
transpiration  each  one  contaminates  ten  cubic  feet  of  this  air  every  minute,  it  is  evident  that  in  about  five 
minutes  the  whole  body  within  the  car  will  have  been  contaminated.  We  can  form  some  estimate,  therefore, 
of  the  intensity  or  concentration  of  this  contamination  when,  at  the  end  of  a winter’s  night,  of  say  fifteen 
hours,  the  whole  body  has  been  thus  rendered  filthy'  five  times  an  hour — seventy-five  times  during  the 
night!  It  is  useless  to  point  to  the  “ ventilators”  through  the  roof  of  the  car,  for  not  a particle  of  air  can  go 
out  of  them  for  the  whole  fifteen  hours,  except  a little  puff  perhaps  at  the  opening  of  a door,  for  I have 
already'  explained  and  proved  that  no  air  can  leave  an  air-tight  apartment  unless  that  same  quantity  be  let 
into  it;  and  we  all  know  from  experience  that  none  of  the  windows  will  be  allowed  to  be  opened  during  a 
winter’s  night. 

The  lungs  of  every  adult  person  take  in  a pint  of  air  at  every'  breath,  and  this  about  twenty  times  a 
minute,  so  that  into  this  small,  tight  box  of  a carriage  there  are  poured  twelve  hundred  pints  of  matter  every 
minute,  the  reeking  contents  of  the  lungs  and  stomachs  of  these  sixty’  passengers,  some  of  them  consump- 
tives, and  many  others,  mayhap,  redolent  of  brandy  and  tobacco!  It  is  quite  bad  enough  for  a person  to  take 
in,  a second  time,  the  effluvia  from  his  own  lungs  and  stomach,  but  how  exceedingly  disgusting  is  the  idea 
of  taking  in  the  emanations,  not  onlv  from  the  stomach  and  lungs  but  other  parts  of  the  body,  of  so  promis- 
cuous a crowd,  for  the  space  of  fifteen  hours,  the  matter  becoming  more  and  more  putrid  every  minute! 


40 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


Is  it  not  a wonderful  provision  of  nature  that  life  can  be  sustained  under  such  circumstances?  and  is  it 
not  beyond  all  comprehension  that  an  intelligent  community  quietly  submits  to  and  tolerates  such  a state  of 
things? 

Now,  couple  with  this  the  sufferings  endured  from  cold  feet,  which  rest  all  night  upon  an  ice-cold  floor, 
while  the  head  is  in  a bath  of  human  filth  nearly  up  to  blood-heat. 

WHAT  IS  HEAT  ? 

You  cannot  contravene  the  laws  of  nature ; but  if  you  will  work  with  and  assist  her,  she  will  cause  a 
whole  building  and  every  apartment  to  inhale  pure  air,  and  exhale  that  which  has  been  vitiated,  just  as 
naturally  as  the  lungs  of  an  animal  do.  Heat  plays  an  important  part  in  these  operations,  not  only  as  a 
warming  agent,  but  as  a means  for  securing  and  continuing  this  healthy  action.  It  is  therefore  proper  that 
we  should  devote  a little  space  to  the  consideration  of  its  relations  to  ventilation. 

Cold  is  merely  a relative  term ; it  has  no  existence  as  a positive  agent  or  force,  and  is  simply  an  absence 
of  heat.  Of  heat  we  know  nothing,  except  through  its  effects.  What  it  really  is  has  puzzled  many  a wise 
philosopher  to  satisfactorily  explain;  therefore  we  shall  not  presume  to  theorize  on  the  subject.  As  stated  in 
the  preface,  we  only  have  to  do  with  practical  matters,  with  just  so  much  of  science  involved  as  will  aid  us  in 
our  explanations.  We  know  that  heat  enters  into  the  substance  of  all  bodies,  producing  greater  or  less 
results,  according  to  its  intensity.  We  also  know  that  its  tendency  is  to  pass  from  one  body  to  another  until 
they  all  become  equally  heated,  and  the  colder  a body  is  when  brought  in  contact  with  a hot  one,  the  faster 
will  it  take  up  heat.  For  instance,  take  three  bars  of  iron,  one  at  the  ordinary  temperature  of  the  air,  the 
second  just  bordering  on  a red  heat  and  the  third  white-hot.  Place  these  together,  the  hottest  in  the  middle, 
and  the  cold  bar  will  receive  far  more  heat  from  it  than  the  one  nearly  red-hot.  This  proves  that  the  colder 
a body  by  which  you  seek  to  extract  heat  from  a hot  one,  the  greater  the  quantity  that  will  be  obtained. 
Another  illustration  may  assist  in  bringing  out  the  idea  more  clearly.  Take  three  pieces  of  sponge ; let  one 
be  perfectly  dry,  another  about  half  saturated  and  the  third  perfectly  filled  with  water.  Bind  these  together, 
and  that  which  has  the  least  water,  namely,  the  perfectly  dry  one,  will  receive  more  from  the  one  fully 
saturated  than  the  partly-filled  sponge  will.  We  all  have  experienced  the  fact  that  we  lose  heat  from  our 
bodies  much  more  rapidly  in  a very  cold  day  than  in  one  not  so  cold,  which  is  accounted  for  by  the  increased 
difference  of  temperature  between  our  bodies  and  the  air. 

This  passage  of  heat  from  one  body  to  another  is  called  radiation,  and  it  not  only  occurs  in  the  case  of 
solid  bodies,  but  fluids  and  gases  also  radiate  heat,  though  to  a much  less  extent  than  solids.  It  is  radiant 
heat  which  warms  us  from  stoves  and  fire-places. 

Bodies  are  said  to  conduct  heat  when  they  will  take  it  up  and  transmit  it  from  particle  to  particle,  the 
whole  substance  becoming  heated.  For  instance,  if  one  end  of  a copper  or  iron  rod  is  held  in  the  fire,  the 
heat  will  gradually  creep  along  through  the  metal  until  the  rod  becomes  heated  the  whole  length.  Solid 
bodies  conduct  heat  much  more  readily  than  liquids,  and  liquids  more  readily  than  gases.  Air,  in  fact,  is  the 
poorest  conductor  of  heat  known,  being  almost  absolutely  a non-conductor,  unless  it  contains  considerable 
moisture.  Air,  however,  though  it  does  not  conduct  heat — that  is,  transmit  it  from  particle  to  particle — will 
carry  it  by  its  own  motion.  For  example,  if  you  bring  cold  air  into  direct  contact  with  a hot  cannon  ball,  each 
particle  of  air  receives  more  or  less  heat,  and,  becoming  lighter  in  proportion  as  it  is  heated,  immediately 
rises,  giving  place  to  other  particles  which,  receiving  their  share  of  heat,  also  rise,  thus  creating  an  upward 
current  of  warm  air  from  the  hot  body. 

Now,  this  is  just  what  we  want  to  get  at.  We  cannot  heat  the  air  by  radiation,  for  the  heat-rays  will 
pass  directly  through,  without  warming  it  a particle  ; and  as  we  wish  to  warm  the  air  in  order  to  warm  the 
apartments  through  which  it  is  to  pass,  the  only  way  left  us  is  to  bring  the  air  in  direct  contact  with 
some  hot  substance,  so  that  it  may  take  up  heat  in  the  manner  just  mentioned,  and  then  pass  in  through  the 
building  we  wish  to  warm. 

This  brings  us  to  the  question  of  fuel.  What  arrangement  shall  we  construct,  by  means  of  which  we  can 
heat  the  proper  amount  of  air  to  the  desired  temperature,  and  have  as  little  waste  of  heat  as  possible? 

It  has  for  many  years  been  an  impression  on  my  mind,  as  I have  no  doubt  it  has  been  upon  the  minds  of 
most  inquiring  people,  that  there  was  a great  deficiency  in  the  generation  of  heat,  as  well  as  in  its  application 
to  the  warming  of  our  buildings  ; in  short,  a great  waste  of  our  fuel. 

We  should  consider  that  it  is  the  air  in  the  room  that  is  cold,  nothing  else.  The  question,  then,  is: 
Which  can  I do  the  cheapest,  warm  the  air  where  it  is  or  get  rid  of  it  and  replace  it  by  other  air  that  shall 
Lave  been  warmed? 

All  our  aim,  all  our  experiments,  and  all  our  practice,  have  hitherto  been  predicated  upon  the  supposition 
that  the  body  of  air  within  the  room  was  to  be  heated.  Down  to  the  year  1843,  when  I first  began  my 
experiments,  our  fire-places,  our  stoves,  and  our  hot-air  machinery,  were  all  directed  to  this  end,  namely,  the 
heating  of  the  air  already  in  the  room.  If  we  have  but  one  apartment  (and  it  is  the  mere  heating  of  this  that 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


41 


is  required),  I believe  that  the  most  economical  way  is  by  the  common  stove ; but  when  we  have  several 
apartments,  the  cheapest  way  of  warming  them  is  by  means  of  other  air.  Indeed,  there  is  no  other  way  of 
effecting  this  object — the  warming  of  several  rooms  from  one  source  of  heat  (unless  that  source  be  placed  in 
each  apartment),  than  by  substituting  other  and  warmed  air  for  that  already  within  the  room. 

I once  thought  that  several  apartments  might  be  warmed  from  the  one  in  which  the  stove  stood,  and 
instituted  many  experiments  predicated  upon  this  supposition,  but  for  all  practical  purposes  they  turned  out 
failures.  By  making  apertures  at  the  top  and  bottom  of  the  division  wall  between  the  stove-room  and  the 
cold  room  adjoining,  a change  of  temperature  would  take  place;  but,  notwithstanding  the  stove  was  made  red- 
hot,  and  the  room  in  which  it  stood  much  to  warm  for  a person  to  live  in,  yet  the  adjoining  room,  in  a zero 
day,  could  not  be  brought  up  to  over  forty-five  degrees  at  the  center. 

This  I found  was  entirely  owing  to  the  want  of  a sufficiently  rapid  circulation.  The  difference  of  tempera- 
ture between  the  top  and  bottom  of  an  apartment,  inducing  vertical  movements  more  or  less  rapid  according 
to  its  height,  together  with  the  direct  radiation  from  the  hot  metal  in  the  body  of  the  immediately  surround- 
ing air,  will  warm  a room,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  mere  circulation  derived  from  a difference  of 
temperature  merely  would  be  sufficient  to  warm  it,  much  less  an  adjoining  room.  Indeed,  my  experiments 
have  convinced  me  that  it  is  impossible  to  warm  several  apartments  by  one  common  stove,  manage  it  how 
you  will.  If,  therefore,  we  want  to  warm  several  apartments  from  one  source  of  heat,  we  must  induce  a 
circulation  much  more  rapid  than  cau  be  had  by  means  of  the  mere  difference  of  temperature  in  the  room. 
In  a word,  the  air  must  be  drawn  entirely  out  of  the  house  in  order  that  a more  rapid  circulation  may  be  had. 

The  removal  of  the  air  being  the  very  process  required  for  ventilation,  it  follows  that  it  is  cheaper  to 
warm  a building  containing  more  than  one  apartment  by  the  ventilating  process  than  by  any  other. 


VENTILATION. 


BY  PROF.  J.  A.  SEW  ALL. 

Formerly  of  Normal  University,  Illinois,  now  President  State  University,  Boulder,  Colorado. 


rTMIREE  things  are  absolutely  essential  to  the  physical  well-being  of  man — air,  food  and  sleep.  Deprive 
I him  of  either  of  these  and  he  dies.  Air  and  food  are  material  things  to  act  and  be  acted  upon  in 
the  economy.  Sleep  is  a condition  of  the  nervous  system,  depending  upon  the  action  of  air  and  food. 
Deprive  a man  of  air  and  food  and  he  ceases  to  sleep ; modify  the  air  and  food,  and  sleep  is  correspond- 
ingly modified.  If  the  air  be  pure,  the  food  good  in  quality  and  sufficient  in  quantity,  other  things  being 
equal,  the  sleep  will  be  sweet  and  refreshing;  and  if  the  air  be  impure,  the  food  unwholesome  or 
insufficient  in  quantity,  the  sleep  will  be  imperfect,  troubled  and  dreamy.  If  the  food  be  good  and 
sufficient,  while  the  air  is  impure,  the  food,  though  good,  will  not  act  or  be  acted  upon  properly,  and 
consequently  will  not  nourish  the  body;  and  if  the  body  is  not  properly  nourished  and  sustained, 
sleep  is  imperfect  — does  not  act  as  “tired  nature’s  sweet  restorer.”  Then,  on  the  air  we  breathe  depends 
all  that  is  essential  to  our  physical  well-being  or  health.  It  is  the  breath  of  life. 

Experience  teaches  the  same  fact.  The  lumberman  of  our  northern  pine  forests,  in  his  camp  of 
boughs,  his  diet  of  beans  and  pork,  lard  and  molasses  (food  that  is  ordinarily  regarded  not  the  most 
wholesome),  whose  habits  are  not  altogether  the  best,  is  always  strong,  robust  and  most  nearly  free  from 
all  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to.  His  food  is  coarse,  his  work  is  hard  and  exhausting,  and  he  is  exposed 
to  cold,  wind  and  storm ; yet  his  breath  in  the  forest  by  day,  and  in  the  camp  by  night,  is  the  pure, 
life-giving  air  from  heaven,  and  breathing  this  his  food  is  well  digested,  his  sleep  refreshing,  and  bare 
existence  is  to  him  a pleasure. 

Now,  army  statistics  show  that  the  field  hospital  is  far  better  for  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  than 
the  best  constructed  and  best  managed  post  hospitals.  Though  in  the  latter  every  comfort  and  conveni- 
ence seem  to  have  been  provided,  yet  pure  air  in  sufficient  quantity  was  not  supplied ; while  in  the 
field  hospital,  though  much  was  lacking,  the  supply  of  pure  air  was  abundant. 

Again,  the  statistics  of  Europe  and  of  the  United  States  touching  this  matter,  demonstrate  most 
clearly  that,  other  things  being  equal,  out-door  employments  are  the  most  healthy,  and  contribute  most 
to  longevity. 


42 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


I think  it  needs  no  argument  to  demonstrate  the  proposition  that  man  was  intended  by  the  Creator 
to  breathe  pure  air. 

Therefore,  breathing  other  than  pure  air  is  a violation  of  God’s  law,  and  that  for  so  doing  we  must 
and  do  suffer  the  penalty. 

There  is  a vast  amount  of  diseased  humanity  in  the  world,  as  indicated  by  the  number  of  physicians, 
and  the  vast  amount  of  nostrums  offering  themselves  to  mitigate  the  pain  and  to  cure  the  ill.  But  there 
is  no  philosopher’s  stone,  no  elixir  of  life,  no  royal  highroad  to  health.  Only  by  regarding  the 
conditions,  observing  the  laws,  working  in  God’s  appointed  way,  can  we  enjoy  the  blessings  of  health. 
And  as  the  breath  is  most  emphatically  the  life,  the  character  of  the  fluid  we  breathe  to  a great  extent 
determines  the  character  of  our  physical  life,  whether  it  be  good  or  evil. 

THE  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  RESPIRATION. 

It  is  said  that  we  breathe  to  purify  the  blood.  But  how  ? Why  is  it,  then,  when  we  wish  to  preserve,  to 
keep  pure,  any  organized  matter,  as  vegetables  or  meat,  we  remove,  as  far  as  possible,  all  air,  and  secure  it 
from  its  action?  If  the  air  will  purify  the  blood,  why  not  meat,  or  any  other  organized  body  ? Now  we  know 
that  the  air,  or  the  positive  acting  agent,  the  oxygen,  always  acts  as  a des trover ; its  sole  office  is  to  tear  down, 
to  break  up  all  organic  compounds  and  resolve  their  elements  into  simple  and  more  stable  groups.  Its  office 
and  tendency  is  everywhere  the  same,  and  unless  this  tendency  be  resisted  by  some  antagonizing  force  the 
oxygen  would  speedily  and  completely  destroy  the  whole  organized  world.  Then  why  does  not  oxygen 
destroy  the  animal?  It  does,  and  yet  does  not.  It  feeds  upon  the  very  tissues  of  the  body,  and  is  fed  by 
them ; it  demands  victims  to  be  sacrificed  to  appease  jts  never-satiated  appetite ; and  were  it  not  for  that 
strange  and  mighty  force  which  we  name  and  recognize,  but  do  not  comprehend  — vitality  — which  regulates 
and  controls  the  action  of  this  agent,  it  would  speedily  resolve  all  organized  matter  into  stable  and  lifeless 
forms.  Literally,  the  organized  world  would  be  burned  up  and  naught  left  but  its  ashes;  and  when  vitality 
ceases  to  antagonize  or  resist  its  action  we  return  to  the  dust  from  which  we  sprung. 

Then,  breathing  is  not  for  the  purpose  of  purifying  the  blood,  but  to  break  down  the  tissues  of  the  body 
and  remove  them  under  the  direction  and  control  of  the  vital  principle.  In  all  animal  tissues  there  is  a work 
performed  which  has  a tendency  to  wear  out  and  render  unfit  for  service  parts  of  themselves  — parts  or  mole- 
cules that  have  lost  their  vitality — and  these  worn-out  molecules  become  the  food  for  oxygen.  These  worn- 
out  atoms  are,  for  the  most  part,  hydrogen  and  carbon.  The  oxygen  seizes  upon  them  and  converts  them,  by 
thus  uniting  with  them,  into  carbonic  acid  and  water,  or,  using  another  figure,  the  oxygen  may  be  regarded 
as  scavenger  boats,  which  enter  the  lungs,  pass  into  the  blood,  and  are  carried  into  every  part  of  the  body, 
where  they  are  loaded  with  these  worn-out  elements,  carbon  and  hydrogen.  With  these  loads  they  return 
through  the  veins  to  the  lungs  and  pass  out  into  the  air  in  the  form  of  carbonic  acid  and  vapor  of  water. 
They  are  now  taken  up  by  the  leaves  of  the  trees,  unloaded,  the  carbon  and  hydrogen  entering  into  and 
becoming  a part  of  the  tree,  while  the  unloaded  scavenger  boats  (oxygen)  are  returned  to  the  atmosphere  to 
repeat  the  process.  Verily  then,  the  “ leaves  are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations.”  This,  then,  is  the  office  of 
respiration — to  remove  the  worn-out  tissues  of  the  body. 

Now  if  the  air  is  more  or  less  saturated  with  this  carbonic  acid,  some  of  these  loaded  barges,  when  we 
inhale  a breath  of  air,  will  enter  too.  The  demand  of  the  tissues  is  for  vehicles  to  carry  away  the  waste  pro- 
ducts, and  the  demand  is  imperative ; and  though  the  loaded  barges  go  at  the  call  of  the  suffering  tissues, 
the}'  cannot  remove  any  of  the  material,  for  they  are  already  completely  loaded.  Two  atoms  of  oxygen  can 
take  but  one  of  carbon,  and  therefore  they  but  obstruct  and  block  up  the  way,  and  thus  produce  disorder  and 
disturbance — disease. 

Now  there  must  always  be  a small  amount  of  carbonic  acid  in  the  atmosphere,  because  it  is  continually 
being  emitted  by  the  whole  animal  kingdom,  and  as  a product  of  combustion  and  decay.  Yet,  by  the 
peculiar  law  of  gaseous  diffusions,  it  is  so  completely  diffused  through  or  mingled  with  the  atmosphere  that 
it  amounts  to  only  °f  its  weight. 

As  the  specific  gravity  of  carbonic  acid  is  considerably  greater  than  that  of  the  air,  were  it  not  for  this 
gaseous  diffusion  it  would  settle  to  the  bottom  of  the  atmospheric  ocean  and  form  a layer  five  feet  in  depth. 

But  if  only  the  normal  amount  be  present,  it  is  completely  diffused,  so  that  we  find  it  existing  in  exactly 
the  same  proportion  on  the  mountain  and  in  the  valley.  But  if  more  than  T-faq  be  present,  the  tendency  is 
to  settle  at  the  bottom,  making  the  ten  per  cent  of  carbonic -acid  greater  near  the  surface  than  in  the  higher 
regions.  Thus  in  the  Grotto  del  Cane,  in  Italy,  where  the  gas  escapes  in  large  quantities  from  the  earth,  all 
animals  entering  the  cave  almost  instantly  die  from  the  effect  of  breathing  the  carbonic  acid.  Now,  if  the  air 
contain  only  one  or  two  per  cent,  its  effect  is  clearly  poisonous.  If  ten  per  cent,  it  produces  immediate  death. 

HEAT  AND  VENTILATION. 

We  have  attempted  to  demonstrate  that  pure  air  is  the  normal  breath  of  man,  but  art  and  civilization 
have  induced  conditions  which,  to  a greater  or  less  extent,  interfere  with  or  antagonize  the  purely  normal 
conditions. 


XORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


43 


Man  finds  that  it  is  necessary  to  his  comfort  to  be  sheltered  from  the  heat  and  rain  of  the  tropics,  and 
from  the  heat  and  cold  and  storms  of  the  temperate  and  frigid  regions.  To  accomplish  this  end  he  erects  the 
roof  and  builds  the  walls  about  him ; in  short  he  builds  a house. 

Now  this  house  is  an  evidence  of  high  civilization;  it  adds  to  his  comfort.  But  by  living  beneath  this 
roof,  within  these  walls  he  has  to  a certain  extent  disregarded  the  normal  conditions,  for  the  air  within  the 
confined  space  is  not  so  pure  as  that  which  surrounds  it,  and  therefore  his  respiration  is  imperfect.  Again,  in 
all  the  regions  of  the  earth  north  of  25°  south  latitude,  and  south  of  25°  north  latitude,  man  finds  that 
artificial  heat  is  necessary,  and  in  our  latitude  is  required  in  our  houses  for  more  than  half  the  year.  Here, 
then,  is  another  artificial  condition,  and  one  which,  to  a greater  or  less  extent,  interferes  with  the  natural  or 
normal  condition.  If  the  fire  be  made  to  burn  in  an  open  fire-place,  or  in  a close  stove,  a portion  of  the 
oxygen  of  the  air  is  required  to  oxidize  the  fuel.  Now,  if  the  supply  from  without  be  sufficient,  both  for 
respiration  and  combustion,  little  heat  could  be  imparted  to  the  room,  because  the  supply  must  be  of  the  same 
temperature  as  that  of  the  air  outside  the  house.  On  the  other  hand,  if  we  cut  off  the  full  supply  the  air  in  the 
house  might  be  warmed,  but  would  be  rendered  impure.  In  short,  the  air  would  be  as  we  find  it  in  nearly 
all  our  houses — hot,  but  poisonous.  No  doubt  that  either  the  old-fashioned  fire-place  or  the  more  modern 
coal-grate  is  the  best  contrivance  for  warming.  But  a strong  objection  is,  as  we  have  stated,  the  drafts  of  cold 
air  induced;  added  to  this  is  the  great  expense.  In  fact,  the  latter  objection  is  so  great  that  these  methods 
have  been  already  entirely  abandoned. 

Few  persons  seem  to  understand  just  how  the  air  in  a room  is  warmed.  It  is  generally  thought  that  the 
air  in  immediate  contact  with  the  burning  fuel  or  heated  stove  is  warmed,  and  that  this  warms  another,  and 
so  until  all  the  air  in  the  room  is  warmed.  Not  so  at  all.  The  air  next  to  the  burning  fuel,  in  the  case  of  the 
open  fire,  is  warmed,  and  for  the  most  part  goes  up  the  chimney.  A small  part,  however,  arises,  and  the  cold 
air  takes  its  place.  The  heated  air  that  rose,  slowly  cools,  and  is  displaced  by  the  warmer  and  rarer  air  just 
escaped  from  immediate  contact  with  the  fire,  and  after  a time  falls  and  is  again  warmed.  So  that  we  see 
only  a small  part  of  the  air  of  the  room  is  warmed,  while  whole  oceans  are  heated  and  escape  from  the 
chimney.  If  a stove  be  used  for  heating,  only  a small  part  of  the  air  comes  in  contact  with  the  burning  fuel, 
— in  fact,  just  enough  to  oxidize  the  fuel,  while  the  air  about  is  heated  and  rarified,  and  then  pressed  up 
by  the  cooler  and  heavier  air,  which  is  in  turn  heated  and  forced  up,  and  thus  we  have  a current  of  air 
established,  moving  toward  the  stove,  then  up  to  and  along  the  ceiling,  then  down  to  be  warmed  again.  But 
as  this  current  takes  place  in  a closed  room  (and  the  tighter  the  better,  we  think),  of  course  it  is  the  same  air 
moving  in  a circle,  to  which  we  are  constantly  imparting  the  carbonic  acid  of  the  breath,  which  is  warmed 
and  circulated  and  breathed  again,  and  if  our  rooms  were  absolutely  air-tight,  in  a short  time  the  air  would 
be  so  saturated  with  carbonic  acid  as  to  produce  death.  We  shall  never  be  able  to  tell  how  much  we  are  indebted 
to  green  lumber  and  indifferent  viorkmen. 

Another  method  of  heating  is  by  driving  steam  through  coils  of  iron  pipe.  Not  only  does  this  method  of 
warming  render  ventilation  impossible,  but  it  is,  perhaps,  the  most  uneconomical. 

Now  heat  may  manifest  itself  in  two  ways,  viz.:  as  temperature  and  as  expansion.  All  the  force 
generated  by  the  burning  fuel  will  appear  in  one  of  these  forms,  or  a part  of  both.  Water  at  the  normal 
pressure  can  be  heated  to  only  212°  Fahrenheit.  Consume  as  much  fuel  as  you  will  and  the  water  will 
remain  at  212°  Fahrenheit;  but  the  force  generated  by  the  consuming  fuel  is  not  lost,  but  is  transmitted 
to  the  water  in  the  form  of  expansion,  and  the  water  is  converted  into  steam.  Now  if  the  water  be 
confined,  and  this  tendency  to  expansion  resisted,  the  temperature  can  be  elevated  to  almost  any  extent ; 
but  if  not  thus  resisted  the  temperature  will  not  rise  above  212°  Fahrenheit.  As  it  is  necessary  to  force, 
the  steam  through  the  pipes,  this  expansion  must  be  resisted  until  sufficient  force  is  accumulated  to  accomplish  this 
result.  Now  this  mechanical  work  is  performed  at  the  expense  of  temperature.  If  a building  is  warmed  by 
steam,  three-fifths  of  the  force  generated  by  the  burning  fuel  is  consumed  in  the  form  of  mechanical  motion.  The 
temperature  of  the  steam  in  the  boiler  may  be  400°  or  500°  Fahrenheit,  but  the  pipes  never  indicate 
a temperature  above  212°  Fahrenheit.  I have  never  found  it  above  190°  Fahrenheit.  On  the  other 
hand,  air  may  be  heated  to  600°  Fahrenheit,  with  but  slight  expansion,  so  that  nearly  all  the  force 
generated  by  the  burning  fuel  appears  as  temperature,  while  scarcely  a particle  appears  as  mechanical 
motion.  Here  we  see  why  Ericsson  failed  in  his  attempt  to  use  heated  air  instead  of  steam  as  a motive 
power.  Heat  being  applied  to  the  air  appears  as  temperature,  but  being  applied  to  water  appears  as 
expansion,  or  mechanical  motion. 

Thus  we  see  that  in  all  these  plans  of  heating  there  can  be  no  adequate  ventilation. 

But  as  we  accustom  ourselves  to  an  atmosphere  impure  and  unfit  for  breathing,  and  do  not  feel  any 
direct  and  immediate  effect,  we  endure  it,  and  think  little  or  nothing  of  it;  yet  we  wonder  why  we 
suffer  from  headaches  and  aches  of  every  description,  and  gravely  wonder  at  a mysterious  Providence 
when  some  terrible  epidemic  of  a zymotic  character  appears  and  numbers  its  victims  by  thousands. 

It  may  not  be  necessary  here  to  dwell  upon  the  fact  that  by  the  repeated  passage  of  the  same  air 
through  the  lungs  it  may,  though  originally  pure  and  wholesome,  be  so  strongly  impregnated  with 
carbonic  acid,  and  may  lose  so  much  of  its  oxygen,  as  to  be  rendered  utterly  unfit  for  the  continued 


44 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


maintenance  of  the  aerating  process,  so  that  the  individual  who  continues  to  respire  it  shortly  becomes 
asphyxiated.  There  are  several  well  known  cases  in  which  the  speedy  death  of  a number  of  persons 
confined  together  has  resulted  from  the  neglect  of  the  most  ordinary  precautions  for  supplying  them 
with  air.  That  of  the  “Black  Hole  of  Calcutta,”  which  occurred  in  1756,  has  acquired  an  unenviable 
preeminence,  owing  to  the  very  large  proportion  of  the  prisoners — 123  out  of  146  — who  died  during  one 
night'. x confinement  in  a room  18  feet  square,  only  provided. with  two  small  windows;  and  it  is  remarkable 
that  out  of  the  twenty-three  who  were  found  alive  in  the  morning  many  were  subsequently  cut  off  by 
putrid  fever.  Such  catastrophes  have  occurred  even  in  this  country  from  time  to  time,  though  usually 
upon  a smaller  scale.  There  has  happened  one  at  no  distant  date,  however,  which  rivaled  it  in  magnitude. 
On  the  night  of  the  1st  of  December,  1848,  the  deck  passengers  on  board  the  Irish  steamer  Londonderry 
were  ordered  below  by  the  captain,  on  account  of  the  stormy  character  of  the  weather,  and  although 
they  were  crowded  into  a cabin  far  too  small  for  their  accommodation,  the  hatches  were  closed  down 
upon  them.  The  consequence  of  this  was  that  out  of  150  individuals  no  fewer  than  70  were  suffocated 
before  the  morning. 

It  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  upon  the  medical  practitioner,  however,  and  through  him  upon  the 
public  in  general,  that  the  continued  respiration  of  an  atmosphere  charged  in  a far  inferior  degree  with  the 
exhalations  from  the  lungs  and  skin  is  among  the  most  potent  of  all  the  predisposing  causes  of  disease,  and 
especially  of  those  zymotic  diseases  whose  propagation  seems  to  depend  upon  the  presence  of  fermentable 
matter  in  the  blood.  That  such  is  really  the  fact  will  appear  from  evidence  to  be  presently  referred  to,  and 
it  is  not  difficult  to  find  a complete  and  satisfactory  explanation  of  it,  for,  as  even  the  presence  of  a small 
percentage  of  carbonic  acid  in  the  respired  air  is  sufficient  to  cause  a serious  diminution  in  the  amount  of 
carbonic  acid  thrown  off  and  of  oxygen  absorbed,  it  follows  that  these  oxidating  processes,  which  minister  to 
the  elimination  of  effete  matter  from  the  system,  must  be  imperfectly  performed,  and  that  an  accumulation  of 
substances  tending  to  putrescence  must  take  place  in  the  blood.  Hence  there  will  probably  be  a considerable 
increase  in  the  amount  of  such  matters  in  the  pulmonary  and  cutaneous  exhalation,  and  the  unrenewed  air 
will  become  charged,  not  only  with  carbonic  acid,  but  also  with  organic  matter  in  a state  of  decomposition, 
and  will  thus  favor  the  accumulation  of  both  these  morbific  substances  in  the  blood,  instead  of  effecting  that 
constant  and  complete  removal  of  them  which  is  one  of  the  chief  ends  of  the  respiratory  process  to  accom- 
plish. It  has  been  customary  to  consider  the  consequences  of  imperfect  respiration  as  being  exerted  merely 
in  promoting  an  accumulation  of  carbonic  acid  in  the  system,  and  in  thus  depressing  the  vital  powers  and 
rendering  them  prone  to  the  attacks  of  disease.  But  the  deficiency  of  oxygenation,  and  the  consequent 
increase  of  putrescent  matter  in  the  body,  must  be  admitted  as  at  least  a concurrent  agency,  and  when  it  is 
borne  in  mind  that  the  atmosphere  in  which  a number  of  persons  have  been  confined  for  some  time  becomes 
actually  offensive  to  the  smell,  in  consequence  of  the  accumulation  of  such  exhalations,  and  that  this 
accumulation  exerts  precisely  the  same  influence  upon  the  spread  of  a zymotic  disease  as  that  which  is 
afforded  by  the  diffusion  of  a sewer  atmosphere  through  the  respired  air,  it  scarcely  admits  of  reasonable 
doubt  that  the  pernicious  effects  of  over-crowding  are  exerted  yet  more  through  its  tendency  to  promote 
putrescence  in  the  system  than  through  the  obstruction  it  creates  to  the  due  elimination  of  a carbonic  acid 
from  the  blood,  for  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  while  the  complete  oxidation  of  the  effete  matters  will  carry 
them  off  from  the  lungs  in  the  form  of  carbonic  acid  and  water,  leaving  urea  and  other  highly  azotized 
products  to  pass  off'  by  the  kidneys,  an  imperfect  oxidation  will  only  convert  them  into  those  peculiarly 
offensive  products  which  characterize  the  fieeal  excretion. 

Of  the  remarkable  tendency  of  the  respiration  of  an  atmosphere  charged  with  the-  emanation  of  the 
human  body  to  favor  the  spread  of  zymotic  diseases,  a few  characteristic  examples  will  be  given.  All  those 
who  have  had  the  widest  opportunities  of  studying  the  conditions  which  pre-dispose  to  the  invasion  of 
cholera,  are  agreed  that  overcrowding  is  amongst  the  most  potent  of  these;  and  from  the  numerous  cases  in 
which  this  was  most  evident,  contained  in  the  “ Report  of  the  General  Board  of  Health”  on  the  epidemic  of 
1S4S-9,  the  two  following  may  be  selected  : 

In  the  autumn  of  1849  a sudden  and  violent  outbreak  of  cholera  occurred  in  the  work-house  of  the  town 
of  Taunton ; no  case  of  cholera  having  previously  existed,  or  subsequently  presenting  itself,  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  in  general,  although  diarrhoea  was  prevalent  to  a considerable  extent.  The  building 
was  altogether  badly  constructed,  and  the  ventilation  deficient ; but  this  was  especially  the  case  with  the 
school  rooms,  there  being  only  about  68  cubic  feet  of  air  for  each  girl,  and  even  less  for  the  boys.  On 
November  3 one  of  the  inmates  was  attacked  with  the  disease.  In  ten  minutes  from  the  time  of  the  seizure 
the  sufferer  passed  into  a state  of  hopeless  collapse.  Within  the  space  of  4S  hours  from  the  first  attack,  42  cases 
and  19  deaths  took  place ; and  in  the  course  of  one  week,  60  of  the  inmates,  or  nearly  22  per  cent  of  the  entire 
number  were  carried  off;  while  almost  every  one  of  the  survivors  suffered  more  or  less  severely  from  cholera 
or  diarrhoea.  Among  the  fatal  cases  were  those  of  25  girls  and  9 boys;  and  the  comparative  immunity  of  the 
latter,  notwithstanding  the  yet  more  limited  dimensions  of  their  school  rooms,  affords  a retnarkable 
confirmation  of  the  general  doctrine  here  advanced  — for  we  learn  that,  although  good  and  obedient  in  other 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


4.5 


respects,  they  could  not  be  kept  from  breaking  the  windows,  so  that  many  of  them  probably  owed  their  lives 
to  the  better  ventilation  thus  established. 

Now,  in  the  jail  of  the  same  town,  in  which  every  prisoner  is  allowed  from  819  to  935  cubic  feet  of  air,  and 
this  is  continually  renewed  by  an  efficient  system  of  ventilation,  there  was  not  the  slightest  indication  of 
the  epidemic  influence. 

The  other  case  to  be  here  cited  is  at  the  Mil  bank  Prison,  in  which  the  good  effects  of  the  diminution  of 
previous  overcrowding  were  extremely  marked.  In  the  month  of  July,  1849,  when  the  epidemic  was  becom- 
ing general  and  severe  in  the  Metropolis,  the  number  of  male  prisoners  was  reduced,  by  the  transfer  of  a 
large  proportion  of  them  to  Shorneliff  barracks,  from  1,039  to  402 ; the  number  of  female  prisoners,  on  the  other 
hand,  not  only  underwent  no  reduction,  but  was  augmented  from  120  to  131.  Now,  the  cholera  mortality  of 
London  generally,  which  was  0.9  per  1,000  in  June  and  July,  increased  to  4.5  per  1,000  in  August  and  Septem- 
ber ; and  the  mortality  among  th  & female  prisoners  underwent  a similar  increase,  from  8.3  to  53.4  per  1,000.  But 
the  mortality  among  the  male  prisoners  exhibited  the  extraordinary  diminution  from  23.1  per  1,000 — -which 
was  the  rate  during  June  and  July,  when  the  prison  was  crowded  — to  9.9  per  1,000,  which  was  its  rate  dur- 
ing August  and  September,  after  the  reduction  had  taken  place.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  imagine  a more 
probative  case  than  this;  since  it  shows,  in  the  first  place,  the  marked  influence  of  the  crowded  state  of  the 
prison  upon  the  fatality  of  the  disease ; secondly,  the  diminution  of  mortality  among  the  male  prisoners,  con- 
sequent upon  the  relief  of  the  overcrowding — notwithstanding  the  quintupling  of  general  mortality  of  the 
metropolis,  during  the  same  period;  and  thirdly,  the  yet  greater  increase  of  mortality  among  the  female 
prisoners,  which  proved  that  the  diminution  among  the  males  could  not  be  attributed  to  any  recession  of  the 
epidemic  influence  from  the  locality. 

From  the  very  full  and  careful  statistics  prepared  by  the  surgeon-general  of  the  armies  of  India,  I find 
the  mortality  from  cholera  varied  as  the  provision  for  ventilation  varied.  Every  other  circumstance  and 
condition  being  the  same,  the  mortality,  where  the  provision  for  respiration  was  good,  amounted  to  15  in 
1,000;  where  it  was  very  bad,  it  amounted  to  108.6  in  1,000.  Not  only,  then,  does  theory  teach  us  that  imper- 
fect respiration  induces  disease,  but  also  these  facts,  and  hundreds  of  others  that  might  be  cited,  demonstrate 
the  same  truth.  True,  the  effects  of  bad  ventilation  may  not  exhibit  themselves  in  the  form  of  cholera  or 
putrid  fever,  but  they  must,  and  do,  manifest  themselves  in  some  other  way,  in  slower  diseased  processes. 

With  all  these  facts  confronting  us,  it  would  seem  that  science  might  devise,  and  philanthropy  apply  some 
means  by  which,  in  our  homes,  in  our  churches,  in  our  school  houses,  in  all  our  public  buildings,  we  could 
enjoy  this  necessary  luxury  of  pure  air.  Various  methods  have  been  attempted  for  the  accomplishment  of 
this  end;  but  these  attempts  have  been,  till  within  a few  years  ago,  perfect  failures,  and  the  complaint  of 
poor  or  no  ventilation,  almost  universal.  Yet  the  principles  upon  which  a perfect  system  of  ventilation  is 
based  are  very  simple.  Two  things  are  necessary:  1st.  Pure  air  must  be  supplied  in  sufficient  quantities. 
2d.  The  foul  or  impure  air  must  be  removed.  It  is  quite  impossible  to  do  one  of  these  without  doing  the 
other.  You  cannot  introduce  air  into  a room  already  filled  with  air.  You  cannot  remove  the  air  from  a room 
without  admitting  something  to  take  its  place. 

THE  RUTTAN  SYSTEM. 

These  simple  principles  above  referred  to  are  those  on  which  lion.  II.  Ruttan’s  system  of  warming  and 
ventilation  is  based.  These  are  in  simple  conditions  observed.  Cold  air  is  admitted  in  abundance  to  the 
“air  warmer,”  where  it  is  warmed  (not  heated  red-hot , and  its  life-sustaining  qualities  vitiated),  then  rises,  and 
is  diffused  through  the  room,  or  rooms;  while  the  cold  air,  being  heavier,  falls  to  the  floor,  and  escapes  at  or 
near  the  bottom  of  the  room,  passes  beneath  the  floor,  and  is  collected  into  the  foul  air  shaft,  and  escapes 
into  the  outer  air. 

Still,  it  is  the  almost  universal  practice  to  set  furnaces,  and  provide  hot  air  pipes  to  conduct  the  heated 
air  into  a room,  and  make  no  provision  whatever  for  the  air  to  get  out  of  the  room,  and  in  most  cases  no  cold 
air  duct  is  provided  to  supply  air  to  the  furnace  ; and  yet  men  expect  to  force  a current  of  hot  air  from  such 
heaters  into  a room,  and  effectually  warm  it.  Let  anyone  think,  only  for  a moment,  that  all  rooms  are  always 
full  of  air  of  some  kind,  and  then  remember  that  it  is  just  as  impossible  to  put  two  quantities  of  air  into  a room  at 
the  same  time,  as  it  is  two  quantities  of  anything  else;  and  a man  would  be  just  as  sensible,  who  should  tr}r  to 
force  twice  as  many  cubic  feet  of  marble  into  a room  as  thei’e  were  cubic  feet  of  space,  as  he  would  be  who 
tries  to  force  hot  air  into  a room  already  full  of  cold  air,  without  first  providing  for  the  cold  air  to  go  out.  To 
illustrate:  the  writer,  only  a few  days  ago,  was  called  to  visit  a large  church,  designed  to  seat  one  thousand 
people,  which,  it  was  said,  was  arranged  for  ventilation.  And,  upon  examination,  it  was  found  to  be  arranged 
for  heating  with  four  furnaces,  and  it  had  some  eight  or  ten  ventilating  shafts  or  chimneys,  expected  to 
exhaust  or  take  the  air  out  of  the  building,  but  not  one  inch  of  opening  was  provided  to  take  air  in.  But  the  fur- 
naces were  to  be  set  in  the  basement  lecture-room,  and  then  take  the  air  from  that  room  and  heat  it,  and 
send  it  up  into  the  main  audience-room,  and  out  of  doors  through  the  chimneys. 


40 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


Mr.  Ruttan  has  demonstrated  by  many  experiments  during  the  last  twenty  years,  and  at  an  expense  of 
over  $30,000,  that  there  is  no  way  to  get  the  impure  air  out  of  a house  except  by  chimneys  or  upright  shafts. 
He  has  perfected  a plan  to  effect  this  result,  which  is  simple  and  cheap,  and  when  put  into  the  building  as  it 
is  being  built,  costs  actually  little  or  nothing  more  than  to  build  the  house  the  ordinary  way  without  providing 
for  ventilation.  His  plan  is  to  take  the  air  through  the  “ air-warmer,”  and  then  pass  it  from  it  to  the  rooms, 
through  registers  or  transoms,  and  out  at  the  bottom  through  an  open  base-board,  under  the  floor,  and  thence 
into  the  chimney.  By  this  arrangement  we  avoid  all  currents  of  cold  air  over  the  floor,  as  in  the  case  with 
stoves,  and  keep  the  floor  always  warm,  varying  only  some  four  or  five  degrees  from  the  temperature  at,  say 
five  feet  above  the  floor;  while  in  any  ordinary  room,  warmed  in  the  ordinary  way,  the  thermometer  will 
show  a difference  of  ten  to  thirty  degrees. 

In  a room  thus  ventilated  the  air  cannot  be  impure;  because,  as  we  have  before  stated,  the  carbonic  acid 
exhaled  from  the  lungs,  being  heavier,  falls  to  the  lower  part  of  the  room  and  escapes,  while  pure  air  from 
without  takes  its  place.  Here,  then,  we  have  a perfect  system  of  ventilation.  We  secure  a complete  supply 
of  pure,  warmed  air,  but  without  strong  currents  being  established,  while  the  impure  air  flows  out  contin- 
ually. Another  great  advantage  gained  by  this  plan  is  the  equality  of  the  temperature  of  the  air.  Actual  experi- 
ment shows  that  there  is  not  more  than  5°  ( Fahrenheit ) difference  between  the  temperature  at  the  ceiling  and  at  the  floor; 
while  in  a room  warmed  by  a stove  the  difference  is  from  20°  to  45°  ( Fahrenheit ). 

This  plan  of  passing  the  foul  air  out  at  or  near  the  floor  is  emphatically  new.  It  is  an  idea  which  has 
completely  revolutionized  the  old  systems  of  ventilation.  The  purest  and  warmest  air  is  always  at  the  top  of 
the  room,  while  the  coldest  and  most  impure  is  always  at  the  bottom.  If  we  make  an  opening  at  the  top  of 
the  room,  the  purest  and  warmest  air  will  escape;  if  at  the  bottom,  the  coldest  and  most  impure  air  will 
escape.  It  would  seem  that  it  is  not  difficult  to  determine  which  of  these  two  plans  is  the  sensible  or  true 
one.  It  scarcely  seems  necessary  to  claim  more  for  this  system.  If  pure  air  is  so  absolutely  essential  to  physical 
well-being,  and  if  we  can  adopt  any  means,  however  expensive,  to  secure  it,  we  might  rest  satisfied.  But  it  is 
far  from  being  expensive ; while,  on  the  contrary,  a building,  whether  large  or  small,  can  be  constructed  as 
cheaply  with  such  provisions  for  ventilation  as  without  it,  and  can  be  warmed  at  much  less  expense  than  by 
any  other  plan.  The  cost,  as  compared  with  that  of  heating  and  ventilating  by  steam,  is  less  than  one-third, 
and  as  I have  clearly  demonstrated  by  a series  of  careful  experiments  and  observations.  As  compared 
with  ordinary  hot-air  furnaces,  not  more  than  one-half.  As  compared  with  ordinary  stoves,  it  is  decidedly 
less.  In  short,  this  system  seems  to  possess  every  possible  advantage.  It  is  simpler,  cheaper,  and,  best  of 
all,  it  gives  what  is  so  much  needed  — a full,  complete,  and  constant  supply  of  pure  air:  and  I honestly 
believe  that  when  this  system  is  generally  adopted  in  our  country,  the  rates  of  mortality  will  indicate  a 
marked  decrease. 

HUXLEY  ON  THE  TRUE  WEIGHT  OF  MAN. 

Professor  Huxley  asserts  that  the  proper  weight  of  man  is  154  pounds ; made  up  as  follows : Muscles  and 
their  appurtenances,  68  pounds;  skeleton,  24  pounds;  skin,  101  pounds;  fat,  28  pounds;  brain,  3 pounds; 
thoracic  viscera,  31  pounds ; abdominal  viscera,  1 1 pounds ; blood  which  should  drain  from  the  body,  7 pounds. 
The  heart  of  such  a man  should  beat  75  times  a minute,  and  he  should  breathe  15  times  a minute.  In  24 
hours  he  would  vitiate  1,750  cubic  feet  of  pure  air  to  the  extent  of  1 per  cent.  A man,  therefore,  of  the  weight 
mentioned  should  have  800  cubic  feet  of  well  ventilated  space.  He  would  throw  off  by  the  skin  18  ounces 
of  water,  300  grains  of  solid  matter  and  400  grains  of  carbonic  acid  every  24  hours,  and  his  total  loss  during 
that  period  would  be  6 pounds  of  water  and  a little  more  than  2 pounds  of  other  matter. 


The  following  is  from  the  Journal  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society.  This  report  was  presented  by 
A.  W.  Foreman,  M.D.,  under  the  head  of  “The  Houses  we  Live  in  — Flow  shall  we  Ventilate  Them?” 
He  says : 

“Men,  in  building  houses,  rarely  pursue  more  than  two  or  three  lines  of  thought.  Economy  in  the  first 
cost  of  building,  convenience  in  relation  to  the  internal  arrangements  and  external  elegance,  are  generally 
amply  discusssed  ; but  the  more  important  and  subtle  arrangements  for  ventilating,  warming  and  lighting  are 
scarcely  more  than  glanced  at.  * * * 

“We- send  our  children  to  school.  The  houses  have  generally  been  built  grudgingly  by  the  tax-payer, 
who  has  striven  to  make  a house  containing  just  so  many  sittings  as  is  actually  necessary  to  accommodate  the 
pupils  of  legal  age  in  his  district,  taking  no  thought  of  more  being  necessary  than  four  square  walls,  a floor 
under  foot,  and  a roof  over  head. 

“ This  leads  me  to  inquire,  then,  what  is  perfect  ventilation?  A perfect  ventilation  is  a constant  admis- 
sion of  pure  air  into  the  room  to  supply  the  place  of  the  foul  air  just  previously  exhausted  from  it,  and  the 


N0RT1IC0TT  A STINK,  KLMIRA,  N.  V. 


47 


•exhaust  must  be  perfect,  removing  from  the  room  all  the  air  it  contains  at  any  given  time,  at  least  every 
thirty  minutes.  * * 

“The  stove,  in  America,  has  become  almost  a lixed  institution,  especially  in  dwelling-houses,  yet  on 
account  of  its  deleterious  influence  upon  health,  it  should  never  be  used.  Few  persons  have  a true  conception 
of  how  air  is  warmed  or  heated,  thinking,  generally,  that  the  body  of  air  in  a room  lies  still,  and  is  heated  by 
the  stove  imparting  its  heat  to  the  air  touching  it,  and  that  particle  of  air  heating  that  touching  it,  and  so  on 
until  all  the  air  in  the  room  is  heated,  just  as  when  you  put  one  end  of  an  iron  rod  into  the  fire,  the  heat 
traverses  from  particle  to  particle  until  the  whole  rod  becomes  heated;  but  not  so.  The  particles  of  air 
coming  in  contact  with  a heated  body,  themselves  become  hot,  in  consequence  of  which  they  lose  in  specific 
gravity,  and  rise — colder  and  heavier  air  rushing  in  and  supplying  their  place.  Thus  a motion  is  imparted  to 
the  body  of  air  lying  within  the  room,  and  if  the  room  be  tight  the  air  will  continue  to  circulate  indefinitely 
without  any  fresh  air  being  admitted  or  any  of  the  old  air  being  expelled.  In  the  meantime,  the  occupants 
have  been  breathing  the  air  over  and  over  again,  and  each  moment  adding  to  the  carbonic  acid  it  contains  ; 
and  as  the  normal  conditions  of  the  atmosphere  no  longer  obtain,  an  equable  diffusion  of  its  gases  is  impos- 
sible. The  variation  of  temperature  is  so  great  that  the  feet  will  be  cold,  while  the  head,  if  not  excessively 
hot,  experiences  no  such  want  of  heat  as  the  feet  do.  If  a door  in  the  room  be  now  opened,  the  hot  air  will 
rush  out  at  the  top,  while  cold  air  will  rush  in  at  the  bottom  to  supply  its  place.  The  old-fashioned  fire-place 
warms  a room  in  the  same  way  ; but  in  consequence  of  the  fact  that  the  larger  part  of  the  warmed  air  escapes 
up  the  chimney,  the  fireplace  is  so  expensive  in  fuel  as  not  to  be  tolerated.  Besides,  as  the  chimney  serves  as 
an  exhaust-shaft  to  the  room,  every  possible  crack  and  opening  in  the  room  sends  whistling  currents  of  cold 
air  from  every  direction  toward  the  fire,  in  consequence  of  which  the  side  of  the  body  nearest  the  fire  may 
be  as  uncomfortably  warm,  while  the  other  side  will  be  as  uncomfortably  cold. 

“ The  ordinary  pot  furnaces  are  equally  objectionable.  The  quantity  of  air  warmed  is  so  small  that,  in 
•order  to  furnish  a sufficiency  of  heat  to  the  room,  the  furnace,  in  very  cold  weather,  is  heated  red-hot,  and 
■every  particle  of  air  coming  in  contact  wdth  it  is  heated  to  such  a degree  as  to  render  it  wholly  unfit  for 
respiration.  The  little  particles  of  dust  floating  in  the  air  will  be  burned  to  coal,  and  the  air  in  the  room  be 
full  of  carbon.  Coils  of  iron  pipe  filled  with  steam  are  open  to  the  same  objection  as  the  stove,  besides,  to  warm  in 
■this  way  is  the  most  expensive  method  in  use. 

“There  is,  however,  a warm-air  furnace  in  use  (the  Ruttan  Tubular  Furnace)  which,  in  connection  with 
the  method  of  ventilation  just  described,  is  an  eminent  success.  It  is  tubular,  and  is  an  improvement  upon 
a locomotive  steam  boiler,  warming  the  air  exactly  as  the  steam  boiler  does  the  water.  Its  capacity  is  so 
great  that  the  air  is  never  heated,  but  only  warmed  to  a genial  summer  temperature,  thereby  sending  the  air 
into  the  room  in  its  best  possible  condition. 

“ A house  thus  furnished  with  air,  brought  from  the  outside  of  the  house,  and  having  no  possible 
connection  with  the  basement  or  cellar,  passed  through  the  furnace  until  a genial  warmth  is  imparted  to  it, 
then  passing  into  the  room,  ascending  toward  the  ceiling,  then  gradually  settling  toward  the  floor,  until  in  less 
than  thirty  minutes  all  the  air  in  the  room  has  been  changed,  and  thus  continuing  from  hour  to  hour,  and 
from  day  to  day,  may  be  said  to  literally  breathe.  A house  so  arranged  and  furnished  would  be  ventilated, 
because  means  are  provided  for  moving  the  old  air  out  of  the  house,  and  constantly  supplying  its  place  with 
fresh  air.  No  other  ventilation  is  possible,  because  this  recognizes  and  acts  in  accordance  with  the  specific 
gravities  of  gases  which  cannot  be  overcome.  The  Hon.  Henry  Ruttan,  who,  perhaps,  has  done  more  in  this 
line  of  investigation  than  any  man  who  has  ever  lived,  and  who  has  spent  many  years  of  his  life  and  many 
thousand  dollars  of  his  money  in  trying  every  sort  of  experiment,  demonstrated  beyond  doubt  that  there  is 
no  way  of  perfectly  exhausting  the  air  from  a room  except  by  perpendicular  shafts  and  flues,  perforated  at  or 
helow  the  floor.” 


STATE  BOARD  OF  HEALTH  OF  WISCONSIN. 


[Note.— The  following  we  copy  from  the  report  of  the  “ State  Board  of  Health  ” for  the  State  of  Wisconsin  for  the  year  1876, 

by  General  James  Bintliff.] 


NECESSITY  FOR  VENTILATION. 

HUMAN  life  demands  fresh  air,  which  must  be  in  some  degree  pure.  Eight  parts  of  carbonic  acid  to  ten 
thousand  parts  of  atmosphere  has  been  named  as  the  maximum  of  impurity  that  can  be  endured  with- 
out injurious  consequences  supervening.  Unfortunately,  in  most  of  our  public  buildings  (schools  among  the 
rest)  the  proportion  commonly  obtained  is  live  times  as  great  as  that  indicated  by  science  as  the  ultimatum. 
The  body  has  a wonderful  capacity  to  adapt  itself  to  surrounding  circumstances.  When  the  lungs  fail  to 
purify  the  blood,  the  liver  comes  to  the  rescue  and  is  proportionately  overworked.  The  foetus  supported 
directly  from  the  circulating  system  of  ts  mother,  and  having  no  action  of  the  lungs  to  cleanse  the  vital  cur- 
rent, develops  a corresponding  proportion  of  the  other  organ  which,  at  the  time  of  birth,  is  always  largely'  in 
excess  of  the  post-natal  requirements  of  the  system.  With  food  of  another  class  less  prepared  to  sustain  life, 
the  breathing  apparatus  comes  into  operation,  and  the  liver  generally  decreases  in  relative  size.  In  later  life 
the  two  systems  of  purification  supplement  each  other  on  the  same  principle,  hence  minor  impurities  can  be 
endured  without  immediate  poisonous  results.  Children  fall  sick  in  overcrowded  school  rooms,  and  nausea 
relieves  the  stomach  from  food  which  the  want  of  sufficient  oxygen  and  the  presence  of  animal  impurities  in 
the  air,  combined  with  carbonic  acid,  has  rendered  noxious  to  life.  Such  incidents  are  too  common  to  procure 
from  the  average  observer  such  attention  as  they  deserve. 

It  is  not  too  strong  an  expression  when  we  assert  that  millions  of  human  lives  have  been  and  are  being 
sacrificed  for  want  of  care  as  to  this  primal  necessity  of  our  being — ventilation. 

The  President  of  our  State  Medical  Association,  Dr.  J.  B.  Whiting,  in  the  last  annual  address  to  that 
society,  says  with  much  force : Our  children  are  crowded  into  school  rooms  that  have  Utile  or  no  ventilation, 
except  as  the  heat  of  summer  admits  of  opening  doors  and  windows.  From  fifty  to  seventy’ children  are 
often  kept  in  the  school  room  by’  the  hour  when  the  supply’  of  fresh  air  is  not  sufficient  for  one-fourth  that 

number.  If  any  one  doubts  this,  let  him  visit  the  primary  departments  of  the  schools  in  this  state  at  a 

season  of  the  y’ear  when  artificial  heat  is  required,  when  doors  and  windows  are  closed,  and  he  will  find  the 
atmosphere  of  the  room  not  simply  impure  and  oppressive,  but  offensive  and  disgusting  to  the  sense,  and  his 
first  impulse  will  be  to  escape.  If  he  remains,  the  offended  sense  soon  ceases  to  protest,  and  the  visitor 

breathes  the  contaminated  air  with  seeming  impunity ; but  the  little  ones,  who  are  compelled  to  live  in  such 

an  atmosphere  day  after  day  and  month  after  month,  do  not  thus  escape.  The  more  robust  live  through  it, 
but  the  delicate  ones  succumb  to  the  poison  and  fall  out  of  the  ranks.  ******* 
Proper  ventilation  is  impossible  unless  our  buildings  are  so  constructed  as  to  permit  of  tbe  best  processes 
being  carried  out  in  their  integrity.  Many  of  the  finest  buildings  in  this  country,  considered  merely  as 
architectural  beauties,  are  uninhabitable  during  winter  in  consequence  of  defective  arrangements  for  heating 
and  airing  the  several  apartments. 

The  Rattan  system  aims  at  making  the  house  breathe  ; that  is  the  design  of  the  best  process  yet  submitted  ; and  if 
it  is  not  invariably  successful  it  is  not  for  want  of  a correct  appreciation  of  the  great  purpose  which  an 
architect  should  keep  in  view.  The  ventilating  shaft  constructed  in  the  center  of  the  building  is  traversed 
by'  the  smoke-pipe,  which  serves  for  the  whole  structure,  and  this,  by  its  warmth,  compels  a current  of  air 
such  as  will  not  fail  at  all  seasons  to  carry’  off  the  atmospheric  impurities  collected  from  all  parts  of  the 
building.  The  furnace  is  admirable  in  construction,  and  when  applied  to  private  dwellings  the  warm-air 
pipes  convey  to  registers  in  every  room  a supply’ of  heated  pure  air  from  without.  In  school  and  other  public 
buildings  there  is  connected  with  the  furnace  a continuous  warm-air  flue  which  can  be  tapped  by  the  teacher 
to  supply  any  lack  of  atmospheric  freshness.  After  the  heated  air  has  passed  through  the  building,  traversing 
under  the  floor,  specially' raised  for  the  purpose — through  the  partitions  and  over  the  ceiling,  so  that  all  the 
advantages  of  the  Leeds  scheme  have  been  attained;  the  foul  air,  having  no  outlet  but  by  the  shaft  already’ 


NORTIICOTT  & STINK,  ELM]  HA,  N.  V. 


49 

described,  must  return  to  the  basement  of  the  building,  radiating  in  its  travel  the  last  degree  of  its  available 
caloric  before  passing  through  the  tall  chimney  into  the  upper  region  of  the  atmosphere.  Objectors  to  the 
system  as  now  operating  contend  that,  when  the  contrary  winds  prevail,  the  foul  air  is  liable  to  be  forced 
back  into  the  building  with  results  disastrous  to  comfort,  and  that  the  draught  does  not  operate  on  all  the 
rooms  alike.  It  is  even  said  that  some  rooms  in  well  constructed  buildings  have  altogether  failed  to  procure 
ventilation  under  certain  conditions.  It  has  been  suggested  in  reply,  that  the  inconveniences  deprecated  as 
likely  to  result  from  contrary  winds  may  be  minimized  or  removed  entirely  by  increasing  the  height  of  the 
conducting  shaft  and  the  temperature  therein.  The  answer  seems  to  be  conclusive.  The  second  objection, 
that  some  rooms  are  not  ventilated  at  all,  or  partake  in  the  general  advantage  insufficiently,  may  be  found  on 
further  experience  to  require  graduated  escape-pipes,  traversing  the  common  flue,  adapted  to  carry  the  foul 
air  from  each  story;  but  a matter  of  detail  so  small  as  that  need  not  be  discussed  in  this  article,  as  the 
company  concerned  in  introducing  the  system,  confessedly  the  most  successful,  will  not  fail  to  adopt  every  substantial 
improvement. 

Ample  experiments  have  demonstrated  that  pure  air  may  be  introduced  into  a room  either  at  the  top  or 
bottom  as  may  be  most  convenient ; but  the  foul  air  should  always  be  removed  through  the  floor  or  on  a level 
with  it,  and  conducted  to  some  central  reservoir  at  the  base  of  the  ventilating  shaft. 

Ventilation  during  the  summer  can  be  secured  by  the  same  system  of  house-breathing,  by  causing  a tire 
to  be  ignited  at  the  base  of  the  foul-air  shaft.  The  current  of  air  thus  caused  will  afford  thorough  ventila- 
tion with  cool  air,  without  the  necessity  to  open  one  window  in  the  edifice.  The  advantages  accruing  from 
the  exclusion  of  hot  air,  dust  and  insects  need  not  be  enforced.  We  would  have  the  main  expense  incurred 
in  the  preparation  of  school  buildings,  not  to  adornment,  much  as  we  admire  beauty  and  value  its  aesthetic 
worth,  but  to  the  procurement  of  efficient  ventilation  at  all  seasons,  and  healthful  warmth  in  winter. 

The  ventilation  of  churches  should  receive  ten-fold  more  attention  than  has  been  given,  but  the  school 
should  command  the  first  and  largest  meed  of  vigilance,  because  therein  those  who  are  helpless  require  our 
protecting  care,  and  upon  the  fulfillment  of  our  obligations  to  them  will  largely  depend  not  only  their  happi- 
ness and  health,  but  the  future  prosperity  of  the  nation.  The  boys  and  girls  of  today  may  be  the  fathers 
and  mothers  of  many  who  will  witness  the  next  Centennial  celebration,  and  the  highest  product  that  we  can 
offer  for  the  approbation  of  the  world  is  a better  citizenship  than  that  which  ushered  in  the  display  in  Fair- 
mount  Park.  We  must  be  able  to  show  that  our  free  institutions  and  numberless  advantages  have  attained 
for  us  commercial,  inventive  and  manufacturing  preeminence,  because  .of  the  nobler  manhood  builded  on 
this  continent,  in  token  of  our  thankfulness  to  Almighty  God  for  the  manifold  blessings  wherewith  He 
has  surrounded  this  nation. 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  OF  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION,  BOWLING  GREEN,  OHIO. 


To  the  Board  of  Education,  Bowling  Green,  Ohio  : 

Gentlemen, — Your  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  different  systems  of  heating  and  ventilating 
public  buildings,  and  to  submit  to  you  a statement  of  the  result  of  its  investigations,  beg  leave  to  report : 

That  by  correspondence  and  by  personal  examination,  we  became  somewhat  familiar  with  the  different 
systems  of  heating  and  ventilation  now  in  use  in  various  public  buildings,  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.;  Elkhart, 
Ind. ; Fostoria,  O. ; Toledo,  0.,  and  at  some  ten  or  twelve  other  points.  Our  examination  of  the  system  of 

heating  by  hot-air  furnaces  brought  to  our  knowledge  no  improvements  of  such  importance,  in  the 

hot-air  furnace,  or  in  the hot-air  furnace,  as  would  justify  a substitution  of  either,  for  the  hot-air 

furnace  of  the make,  that  we  now.  have  in  use.  Our  examination  also  developed  that  the  method  of 

heating  by  steam,  by  direct  and  indirect  radiation,  produces  better  results,  than  those  that  are  accomplished 
by  means  of  steam,  by  direct  radiation  alone.  We  desire,  therefore,  to  call  your  attention  to  two  methods 
only  of  heating  and  ventilating  public  buildings — specially  those  which  are  used  for  school  purposes. 

I.  The  method  of  heating  by  steam,  by  direct  and  indirect  radiation. 

Direct  radiation  is  secured  by  piping,  fastened  to  the  wall,  either  under  the  windows  or  under  the  black- 
board. Indirect  radiation  is  secured  either  by  clusters  of  cast-iron  radiators,  located  in  the  basement  at  the 
mouth  of  hot-air  shafts  leading  to  the  different  school  rooms,  or  by  coils  of  pipe  located  in  the  outside  walls. 
Air  passing  over  these  clusters  or  coils  becomes  heated,  and  is  then  admitted  to  the  rooms  through  registers. 
MTe  find  that  steam  heated  the  buildings  in  which  it  was  used,  quite  satisfactorily  the  most  of  the  time. 
W hen,  however,  the  wind  was  high,  the  rooms  on  the  side  from  which  the  wind  was  blowing,  were  frequently 
cold.  Occasionally  at  Elkhart,  and  frequently  at  Toledo,  the  schools  in  such  rooms  were  dismissed  because 
the  temperature  was  too  low  for  comfort.  We  were  told  that  two  or  three  rooms,  were  inadequately  heated, 
even  in  moderately  cold  weather.  But,  as  a whole,  when  radiators  of  sufficient  capacity  are  put  in,  the  rooms 
are  heated. 

The  ventilation,  in  the  buildings  heated  by  steam,  was  defective.  At  Elkhart  the  system  of  ventilation 
was  found  to  con-fist  of  four  large  ventilating  shafts,  running  from  the  basement  to  and  above  the  roof  of  the 
building,  four  air  vents  opened  into  these  shafts  from  the  different  rooms  and  halls.  To  increase  the  exhaust 
currents,  and  thus  to  draw  the  foul  air  from  the  rooms  more  rapidly,  heated  coils  were  placed  in  the  ventilat- 
ing shafts.  By  this  means  some  of  the  rooms  were  fairly  ventilated.  In  other  rooms,  in  the  same  building, 
the  air  was  heavy.  The  air  in  one  room  was  said  to  be  as  impure  as  it  would  be  in  a room  heated  bv  a stove. 
As  far  as  we  could  learn,  in  none  of  the  buildings  heated  by  steam  could  the  air  be  kept  in  its  normal  condi- 
tion, and  in  none  of  them  could  the  air  be  changed  very  rapidly. 


50 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


We  found  that  the  annual  expense  for  fuel  necessary  to  heat  by  steam  was  heavy  and  in  some  cases 
enormous.  We  herewith  submit  a statement  of  the  cost  of  heating  different  buildings,  to  which  we  invite 
your  careful  attention.  It  is  estimated  that  to  heat  our  school  building  satisfactorily  by  steam  will  cost  from 
$350  (lowest  estimate)  to  $450  (highest  estimate)  per  annum.  These  estimates  were  furnished  by  men 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  subject  of  steam  heating.  It  appears,  also,  that  to  keep  steam  apparatus  in 
repair  necessitates  a steady  outlay;  this  outlay  frequently  commencing  when  the  apparatus  has  been  in  only 
one  or  two  years.  This  item  of  expense  should  fairly  be  charged  to  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  system. 

The  following  are  objections  to  the  successful  use  of  steam : 

fl)  The  temperature  of  a room  near  the  floor  and  near  the  ceiling  is  very  unequal. 

(2)  The  ■whole  system  has  to  be  run  in  order  to  heat  a single  room,  whenever  it  may  be  desirable  or 
necessary  to  use  such  room  — a superintendent’s  office  for  instance. 

(3)  At  every  point  where  we  found  steam  in  use,  the  ventilation  was  imperfect.  The  replies,  also,  to  the 
inquiries  sent  out  by  us  are  uniform  on  this  point.  Some  of  them  put  it  strongly  : that  it  is  doubtful  if  good 
ventilation  can  be  secured  where  steam  is  used. 

(4)  Water  will  run  out  on  the  floors  of  the  different  rooms  whenever  steam  is  not  made  slowly  on  first 
firing  the  engine,  occasioning  delay,  annoyance  and  damage. 

(5)  Pipes  are  liable  to  burst  in  cold  weather  unless  the  boilers  are  emptied  every  night.  To  fill  these 
boilers  daily,  in  places  where  there  is  no  system  of  water  works  in  operation,  materially  increases  the 
janitor’s  labor.  The  running  of  an  engine  all  night,  to  prevent  this  bursting,  increases  the  annu  al  expense. 

(6)  The  pounding  of  the  steam  in  the  pipes  causes  serious  inconvenience. 

II.  The  method  of  heating  bv  the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of  Warming  and  Ventilating. 

The  heat  is  produced  by  passing  fresh  air  over  a large  warming  surface.  A tubular  furnace  is  used.  The 
air,  moderately  heated,  passes  through  shafts  to  the  various  rooms.  That  this  warm  air  can  sufficiently  heat 
the  rooms  into  which  it  is  thrown,  is  abundantly  shown  by  the  results  already  obtained  in  the  various 
buildings  in  Toledo  (the  only  point  where  we  saw  the  system  in  operation).*  The  record  shows  that,  in 
buildings  in  which  one-half  of  the  school  rooms  M'ere  heated  by  hot-air  furnaces,  and  the  remaining 
half  were  heated  by  the  Ruttan-Smead  System,  no  rooms  were  dismissed  on  account  of  cold  in  that  part  of 
any  of  the  buildings  heated  by  the  Ruttan-Smead  System,  while  in  the  other  part  of  the  same  buildings, 
rooms  were  frequently  dismissed  on  account  of  the  low  temperature.  We  submit  herewith  a copy  of  a letter 
written  by  Superintendent  J.  W.  Dowd,  of  the  Toledo  schools,  to  .1.  C.  Jones,  of  the  East  Saginaw  schools, 
showing  the  result  of  the  experiment  in  one  building.  The  statements  contained  in  it  were  also  given  to 
your  committee  by  Mr.  Dowd,  when  the  committee  called  upon  him  for  information  as  to  the  methods  of 
heating  the  school  rooms  under  his  control.  The  direction  of  the  wind  does  not  affect  the  ease  and  certainty 
with  which  school  rooms  can  be  heated  by  this  system,  this  being  in  marked  contrast  with  the  experience  of 
those  who  have  used  steam.  The  temperature  also  is  even  in  all  parts  of  the  room,  as  the  experiment  made 
proved. 

In  the  matter  of  ventilation,  this  system  excels  all  others.  Foul  air  vents  are  placed  at  intervals  around 
the  room,  near  the  floor,  and  connected  with  foul  air  ventilating  stacks.  By  means  of  these  openings  a con- 
stant current  of  air  is  kept  moving  through  the  room.  The  foul  air  is  drawn  out  as  rapidly  as  the  fresh  air  is 
admitted.  The  whole  volume  of  air  in  a room  can  be  changed  in  from  five  to  fifteen  minutes.  A valve  in 
the  warm  air  flue  is  so  arranged  that  the  teacher  can  admit  either  warm  air  or  cold  air,  or  both  ; but  in  no 
case  can  she  shut  off  the  current  of  air  passing  into  a room. 

Tests  made  in  different  rooms  and  in  various  buildings  show  that  the  air  is  nearly  in  its  normal  condition, 
even  at  the  close  of  a day’s  session  of  school.  The  amount  of  carbonic  acid  gas  being  but  slightly  increased, 
and  the  amount  of  oxygen  being  practically  twenty-three  parts.  We  were  unable  to  find,  either  by  letter  or 
by  personal  inquiry,  that  this  system  of  ventilation  had  ever  failed  to  do  all  that  is  claimed  for  it. 

Your  Committee  were  surprised  to  find  that  the  annual  cost  for  fuel  was  so  small.  One  building  in 
Toledo,  heated  by  four  furnaces  during  the  school  year,  1884—85,  consumed  only  seventy-six  tons  of  soft  coal. 
The  Jefferson  street  building,  during  the  same  year,  used  even  less  than  that.  We  also  refer  the  board  to 
the  letter  from  Superintendent  Dowd  to  Superintendent  Jones,  above  mentioned,  for  the  result  of  another 
experiment,  in  which  it  appears  that  in  one  year  $236  more  was  required  to  pay  for  the  fuel  necessary  to  heat 

one-half  of  a twelve-room  building,  by  a warm-air  furnace,  than  was  necessary  to  heat  the  other  half 

by  the  Ruttan-Smead  System. 

The  following  reasons  explain  how  this  saving  in  the  cost  of  fuel  is  obtained. 

(1)  Fires  are  started  in  the  furnaces  from  two  to  three  hours  later  than  can  be  done  when  heating  by 
steam  or  by  other  methods,  and  yet  the  temperature  of  the  rooms  will  be  70°  Fahrenheit  at  the  time  of 
opening  school  each  morning. 

(2)  Fires  are  shut  off  each  day  at  4 p.m.  in  cold  weather,  and  at  3 p.m.  or  earlier  in  moderate  weather. 

(3)  The  large  foul  air  stacks  remove  the  impure  cold  air  from  the  rooms  rapidly;  this  allows  the 
incoming  warm  air  to  settle  to  the  floor  more  quickly,  and  to  raise  the  temperature  of  the  rooms  uniformly. 

(4)  No  fires  are  needed  on  Saturday  or  on  Sunday,  in  cold  weather,  in  order  that  the  school  rooms  may 
be  thoroughly  warmed  on  Monday  mornings. 

(5)  The  improved  perforated  grate  in  the  bottom  of  the  firebox  admits  currents  of  air  to  the  burning 
wood  or  coal  along  its  entire  length,  prevents  the  accumulation  of  ashes  or  slag,  and  keeps  the  temperature  in 
the  firebox  more  uniform,  without  unnecessary  waste  of  fuel. 

The  Ruttan-Smead  Company,  moreover,  guarantee  that  our  building  can  be  heated  with  sixty  tons  of 
soft  coal  or  sixty  cords  of  good  wood  per  annum,  a guarantee  which  will  protect  us,  and  be  safe  for  the  com- 
pany, in  view  of  the  actual  cost  of  running  the  system  in  other  places.  The  cost  for  repairs,  as  experience 
with  the  system  proves,  is  limited  to  providing  new  linings,  occasionally,  for  the  firebox,  and  is  merely 
a nominal  one. 

The  committee  proposed,  among  other  questions,  the  following : 

(a.)  Can  the  rooms  be  heated  and  ventilated,  when  the  warm  air  openings  and  the  foul  air  exists,  are 
near  each  other,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the  room — specially  when  situated  near  either  end  of  the  room? 


*Our  apparatus  is  now  used  in  one  Ann  Arbor  School  Building. — X.  & S. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


51 


In  other  words,  will  not  the  warm  air  current,  by  making  a short  circuit,  pass  out  of  the  cold  air  vent 
immediately,  without  distributing  itself  over  the  room? 

The  committee  were  taken  into  a room,  constructed  as  in  the  case  supposed.  The  experiment  consisted 
in  sending  a puli'  of  smoke  from  a cigar  along  the  surface  of  a table,  situated  in  the  end  of  the  room  farthest 
from  the  warm  air  and  foul  air  openings.  The  smoke,  after  reaching  the  edge  of  the  table,  fell,  in  a condensed 
form,  to  the  floor,  and  keeping  in  its  solid  form,  was  rapidly  drawn  to  the  foul  air  vent.  This  showed  that 
air  was  being  constantly  drawn  from  the  parts  of  the  room  most  remote  from  the  foul  air  exits.  The 
incoming  warm  air  current,  instead  of  mingling  with  the  outgoing  one,  rose  and  spread  itself  evenly  over  the 
room.  As  the  cooler  and  heavier  air  was  drawn  out  the  upper  layers  of  warm  air  gradually  settled.  This 
resulted  in  a uniform  rise  of  temperature  throughout  the  room,  as  shown  by  the  thermometer,  when  placed 
on  the  floor  at  different  points. 

(b.)  Is  the  air,  coming  from  the  warm  air  flues,  burnt  air,  and  oppressive  to  those  sitting  more  directly  in 
the  current? 

Your  committee  sat  for  some  time  near  a warm  air  flue,  and  directly  in  front  of  it,  when  the  thermometer 
indicated  80°  Fahrenheit.  We  could  not  perceive  that  the  air  had  any  of  that  burnt  or  stifling  smell,  so 
noticeable  when  one  is  in  a tight  unventilated  room,  and  near  an  intensely  heated  surface.  The  air,  flowing 
in  from  the  flue,  moderately  heated,  although  the  temperature  was  high,  did  not  seem  to  have  lost  its  good 
qualities.  Upon  going  into  the  furnace  room  we  found  that  the  air  in  passing  over  the  furnace  did  not  come 
in  contact  with  the  iron  incasing  the  firebox.  But  between  the  fire  and  the  current  of  air  to  be  warmed 
were  two  surfaces  of  iron,  separated  by  several  inches;  between  these  surfaces  was  a volume  of  air;  this  air 
kept  t he  outer  layer  of  iron  from  becoming  intensely  heated.  Hence,  the  current  of  air  passing  over  it  could 
not  become  so,  and  the  life  of  the  air  remained  in  it. 

(c.)  Did  the  Ruttan-Smead  furnaces  fail  to  satisfactorily  heat  the  school  building  at  Fostoria?* * 

After  a most  careful  inquiry,  your  committee  became  satisfied  that  they  did  not.  The  heaters  were  said 
to  have  been  discarded,  by  the  Board  of  Education  at  Fostoria,  on  account  of  their  lack  of  durability.  The 
facts  show  that  in  the  basement  of  the  High  School  building  at  Fostoria  there  is  but  a limited  space  in  which 
furnaces  can  be  set,  the  remainder  of  the  basement  being  used  for  other  purposes.  The  Board  required  the 
Ruttan-Smead  company  to  heat  the  building — an  eighteen  room  building,  with  high  ceilings — with  two  furnaces. 
The  company  attempted  to  do  it;  putting  in  furnaces  of  a different  pattern  from  their  regular  make,  and  built 
specially  for  that  building.  The  furnaces  were  not  large  enough  for  the  building.  The  effort  to  force  the 
furnaces  to  heat  beyond  their  capacity  ruined  them.  After  four  year’s  use,  under  such  circumstances, 
the  furnaces  were  taken  out.  That  this  apparent  failure  was  not  a real  one,  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  three 
persons,  who  were  members  of  the  Board  of  Education  at  Fostoria,  when  the  furnaces  where  in  use  in  the 
Union  School  building,  and  who,  subsequently,  were  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
at  the  same  place,  voted  to  put  the  Ruttan-Smead  system  into  a church  building,  then  being  erected  for  the 
Methodist  society  ; this  building  being  one  of  the  largest  and  finest  in  the  city. 

We  were  unable  to  find  any  other  point,  where  this  system  has  not  given  entire  satisfaction. 

Your  committee  therefore  say,  that  having  examined  the  system  of  heating  by  steam,  and  also  by  warm 
air  furnaces,  we  believe  that  the  Ruttan-Smead  System  of  Warming  and  Ventilating,  is  the  one  best  adapted 
to  secure  both  warmth  and  ventilation.  We  also  find  that  the  cost  per  year  for  fuel  is  much  less  by  this 
system  than  by  any  other,  and  that  the  outlay  for  repairs  is  not  so  large.  Your  committee  therefore  recom- 
mend its  adoption,  in  a modified  form,  for  use  in  the  central  school  building  in  this  place. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  S.  Haskell. 

W.  M.  Tuller,  M.  D., 

Bowling  Green,  0.,  July  1,  1885.  Committee. 

W.  II.  II.  Barton,  Brockton,  Mass.:  La  Porte,  Ind.,  October  21,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — In  reply  to  yours  of  the  19th  inst.,  will  say  we  are  heating  the  high  school  building  here  with 
Ruttan-Smead  Furnaces,  they  have  given  excellent  satisfaction,  could  not  think  of  using  any  other.  I 
believe  they  are  the  best  for  large  buildings.  Ours  is  an  old  building,  it  has  not  the  entire  or  complete  Ruttan- 
Smead  system.  The  firm  do  their  work  well  in  every  particular.  I think  them  very  reliable,  and  will  do  as 
they  agree.  Very  respectfully, 

L.  D.  Webber. 

Mr.  W.  II.  H.  Barton,  Brockton,  Mass. : Goshen,  Ind.,  October  23, 1885. 

Dear  Sir — Yours  in  relation  to  Ruttan  system  of  heating,  as  put  in  by  Messrs.  Smead  & Co.,  of  Toledo, 
Ohio,  received,  and  in  answer  we  have  to  say  that  it  is  without  question  the  best  heater  and  ventilator  in  use. 
It  will  warm  your  building  perfectly,  and  at  same  time  give  you  perfectly  pure  air  without  opening  doors  or 
windows.  Messrs.  Smead  & Co.  did  more  for  us  than  we  expected,  and  more  than  they  agreed  to  do  by  contract. 

Yours,  etc., 

John  J.  Freeland,  Secretary. 

Frank  A.  IIascall,  Treasurer. 

Aaron  S.  Zook,  President. 

W.  FI.  H.  Barton,  Brockton,  Mass.:  Kendallville,  Ind.,  October  31,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — Yours  of  October  19,  at  hand,  in  reply,  will  say  to  questions  asked  us,  that  we  are  delighted 
with  Ruttan-Smead  system  as  introduced  by  them  in  our  public  school  building.  It  is  a perfect  success,  gives 
perfect  satisfaction  to  teachers,  pupils  and  janitor.  We  can  have,  without  any  effort,  any  desired  temperature 
to  75°.  The  company  did  their  part  better  than  they  agreed  to ; you  need  have  no  hesitation  in  trusting 
them.  Yours  truly,  FI.  A.  Moyer, 

Secretary  Kendallville  Board  of  Education. 


See  East  Saginaw  Report,  page  54. 

* As  reported  by  “Agents.” 


52 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y, 


Trenton,  Tuscarawas  Co.,  Ohio,  March  18, 1885. 

Messes.  Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co.,  Tolede,  Ohio : 

Gents, — Your  system  of  heating  and  ventilating  buildings  has  been  in  use  in  the  new  school  house  in  this 
village,  since  the  5th  day  of  January  last. 

The  continuous  and  extremely  cold  weather  since  that  time  has  given  us  the  best  kind  of  an  opportunity 
to  test  the  merits  of  your  method  of  heating  and  ventilating,  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  it  is  the  best 
in  use. 

Quite  a number  of  our  citizens  were  very  doubtful  about  the  expediency  of  putting  furnaces  into  the  new 
school  building,  and  some  of  them  sneered  at  the  ventilation  theory  of  the  Ruttan-Smead  C'o.,  but  all  are 
now  well  pleased,  and  many  are  enthusiastic  in  commending  it. 

Your  system  of  heating  and  ventilation  is  to  be  especially  recommended  for  the  following  reasons: 

First. — It  cannot  fail  to  make  an  equable  temperature  of  from  65  and  70°  in  the  coldest  weather. 

Second. — The  ventilation  is  so  thorough,  that  the  usual  languor  in  scholars  and  teachers,  toward  the  noon 
and  evening  recesses,  is  not  perceptible  at  all. 

Third. — The  floors  are  always  warm,  and  hence  teachers  and  pupils  do  not  suffer  with  cold  feet. 

Fourth. — The  cost  of  fuel  is  not  greater  than  it  would  he  for  stoves  to  heat  the,  same  number  of  rooms,  and. gives 
much  better  results. 

Fifth. — The  services  of  a shilled  engineer  or  janitor  are  not  jiecessary,  as  anyone  who  knows  enough  to  make  and 
keep  up  a good  fire,  and  regulate  the  cold  air  doors,  is  capable  of  taking  care  of  these  furnaces. 

Sixth. — There  are  no  pipes  of  any  kind  imbedded  in  masonry,  and  in  case  repairs  are  at  any  time 
necessary,  any  good  ordinary  mechanic  is  capable  to  make  them. 

Seventh,. — The  apparatus  is  simple  in  design,  philosophical  in  principle,  more  durable  and  economical  than 
all  others  that  attain  the  same  results ; and,  in  short,  is  just  calculated  to  fill  a much  needed  want  in  all  our 
public  buildings. 

Wishing  you  that  success  which  your  apparatus  deserves, 

I am,  very  respectfully  yours,  Jno.  D.  Cunning, 

President  of  Board  of  Education,  Warwick  Township,  Tuscarawas,  Co.,  Ohio. 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  HYGIENE,  ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

To  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction : Albany,  May  18,  1885. 

Your  Committee  on  Hygiene  herewith  presents  the  following  report: 

In  the  discharge  of  our  duty  we  have  personally  visited  every  public  school  building  in  the  city,  and  have 
examined  the  same  with  reference  to  location,  seating  capacity,  drainage,  ventilation,  means  of  heating,  and 
the  condition  of  outhouses  and  latrines. 

While  we  do  not  contemplate  the  presentation  of  an  exhaustive'report,  covering  all  the  above  points,  we 
shall  call  attention  to  those  matters  which,  in  our  opinion,  demand  most  urgently  the  attention  of  the  board. 

In  the  opinion  of  your  committee  the  ventilation  and  drainage  of  our  school  buildings  bear  most  directly 
upon  the  physical,  mental,  and  moral  health  of  the  scholars,  and  are  therefore  the  most  important  of  all  the 
sanitary  needs  of  the  schools.  * * * Air  and  light  are  the  birth-right  of  all,  and  it  is  certainly  unjust  to 
discriminate  in  the  matter  of  healthful  locations  for  any  special  part,  section  or  class  of  our  growing  city. 

In  the  matter  of  heating  and  ventilating  your  committee  find  ample  room  for  improvement.  Of  the 
twenty-four  school  buildings  under  the  charge*  of  the  board  only  six  can  be  said  to  be  really  well  heated. 
The  furnaces  and  stoves  placed  in  the  buildings  under  a contract  system  which  looks  to  the  cheapest  article 
only,  no  matter  what  its  sanitary  qualities,  are  entirely  inadequate  to  do  the  work  needed,  and  are  generators 
of  discomfort  rather  than  of  comfort. 

In  school  No.  5,  on  North  Pearl  street,  a new  school  house,  the  hot-air  flues  are  so  ridiculously  small  that 
the  rooms  can  only  be  heated  by  a great  consumption  of  fuel,  and  by  extra  night  work  on  the  part  of  the 
janitor.  In  certain  rooms  in  which  the  flues  have  been  enlarged,  a heightened  temperature  of  at  least  ten 
degrees  has  been  attained.  The  flues  should  be  enlarged  throughout  the  entire  building. 

Ventilation  and  heating  are  so  inseparably  connected  that  where  one  is  inadequate,  the  other  must  be. 
Only  seven  school  buildings  are  even  fairly  ventilated,  and  in  the  majority  of  the  buildings  there  is  no  venti- 
lation whatever  other  than  the  old  and  utterly  insufficient  method  of  opening  flues  near  the  ceilings,  or  by 
means  of  so-called  air-shafts,  which  are  of  no  earthly  use. 

School  No.  11,  on  Madison  avenue,  one  of  the  best  school  buildings  in  the  city,  is  well  supplied  with 
steam-heating  apparatus,  but  is  entirely  devoid  of  healthful  ventilation. 

School  No.  21,  on  Clinton  avenue,  as  originally  ventilated,  appears  to  have  been  in  good  condition,  but  for 
some  cause,  which  your  committee  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain,  four  rooms  in  the  building  occasionally 
pass  their  vitiated  air  through  those  directly  above!! ! The  heating  capacity  of  this  building  is  not  sufficient, 
and  in  six  rooms  during  the  prevalence  of  westerly  winds,  in  zero  weather,  the  temperature  is  never 
above  50°. 

In  this  connection  your  committee  would  report  that  they  have  listened  to  many  different  plans  and  propositions 
relative  to  improved  healing  and  ventilating  methods,  and  have  inspected  certain  systems  suggested  and  recommended. 
After  careful  investigation,  however,  they  unanimously  and  unhesitatingly  recommend  what  is  known  as  the  Ruttan-Smead 
system  as  by  far  the  best  method  of  securing  efficiency  in  these  very  necessary  sanitary  departments. 

This  system  secures  absolute  uniformity  of  temperature,  economy  in  consumption  of  fuel,  desirable  quality  of  air, 
natural  and  healthful  summer  heat,  complete  control  of  the  temperature  by  the  teacher,  and  a supply  of  fresh  air  always 
entering  the  room. 

In  company  with  members  of  the  Committee  on  Construction  and  Repairs,  your  committee  visited  the 
public  school  building  located  at  Fultonville,  New  York,  and  carefully  inspected  the  workings  of  the  Ruttan- 
Smead  system  of  heating  and  ventilating  there  used. 

The  Fultonville  school  building,  visited  by  your  committee,  is  exposed  to  sharp  winds  on  all  sides,  and 
yet  was  perfectly  heated  and  ventilated.  This  being  so,  it  is  obvious  that  in  the  most  exposed  school  buildings 
under  control  of  the  board,  this  system  would  be  found  entirely  adequate  and  satisfactory,  and  your  committee  urge  that  at 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


.53 


least  in  schools  Nos.  21,  20  and  12,  which  have  Ihemost  exposed  surface  of  any  of  our  buildings,  this  Ruttan-Smead  system 
be  at  once  introduced;  adding  also  that  in  the  case  of  No.  21  the  windows  on  the  western  side,  now  in  poor 
condition,  he  made  air-tight. 

Your  committee  would  offer  these  suggestions  for  special  consideration : First,  that  the  janitors  of  the 
several  school  buildings  be  placed  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  superintendent  of  buildings,  who,  being 
himself  responsible  to  the  commissioners,  would  see  to  it  that  proper  care  and  attention  be  given  to  each 
school  building  by  the  janitor  in  charge. 

Second,  That  all  plans  for  new  school  buildings  be  submitted  to  the  Committee  on  Hygiene  for  sugges- 
tions relative  to  sanitary  arrangements  and  regulations. 

Third,  That  hereafter  a much  larger  proportion  of  the  amount  appropriated  in  each  year’s  budget  for 
repairs  and  heaters  be  devoted  to  heating,  ventilation,  drainage,  etc.,  and  thus  gradually  to  put  the  buildings 
under  control  of  the  board  in  complete  sanitary  condition. 

0.  E.  Wilson, 

Peter  J.  Flinn, 
Herman  Bendell. 


From  St.  Joseph  (Mo.)  Evening  News. 

The  Steinacker  school  building,  which  has  just  been  completed,  at  the  corner  of  Second  and  Lewis 
streets,  is  one  of  the  most  completely  appointed  school  structures  in  the  West,  and  is  very  justly  the  pride  of 
the  residents  of  that  part  of  the  city. 

The  building  was  first  used  for  school  purposes  yesterday.  This  morning  the  members  of  the  school 
board  proceeded  to  this  school  in  a body  to  inspect  it,  more  especially  with  a view  of  the  heating  and  ventila- 
tion. All  the  members  were  present  except  Mr.  Hull,  and  a thorough  test  was  made.  There  has  been  some 
difference  in  opinion  among  the  members  of  the  board  as  to  whether  warm  air  or  steam  was  the  best  system 
of  heating  public  buildings. 

The  board  adopted  the  Ruttan-Smead  system  of  furnaces,  or  air  warmers,  and  warm  air  for  this  building, 
and  the  members  were,  of  course,  anxious  to  know  just  how  it  would  operate.  The  board  visited  the  build- 
ing at  9 o’clock,  just  as  school  was  commencing,  and  at  once  commenced  their  task.  The  first  test  was  that 
of  heating.  The  thermometer  was  run  up  from  70°  to  92  in  twenty  minutes,  and  during  this  time  Mr.  Condit, 
the  agent  who  put  in  the  furnaces,  went  to  the  basement  and  had  the  tires  shut  off.  The  schools  were  then 
dismissed  fora  time,  and  the  ventilation  was  then  tested.  One  of  the  rooms  was  tilled  so  densely  with  pine 
smoke  that  one  could  not  see  from  one  wall  to  the  other.  The  ventilating  valves  were  then  opened,  and  the 
smoke  gradually  descended  in  a solid  body  to  the  floor,  rapidly.  In  just  seventeen  minutes  from  the  time  the 
valves  were  open  the  room  was  perfectly  clear  of  smoke.  One  peculiarity  was  that  the  smoke  in  descending 
kept  in  a compact  body,  and  when  half  out  was  so  dense  in  the  lowrer  part  of  the  room  that  the  seats  could 
not  be  seen;  the  air  above  was  so  clear  that  one  could  breathe  freely  and  without  the  slightest  suspicion 
that  there  was  smoke  in  the  room.  The  temperature  proved  to  be  almost  absolutely  uniform,  for  the  ther- 
mometer hung  near  where  the  air  entered,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room  only  differed  If  degrees. 
The  rooms  can  be  warmed  to  any  temperature  desired,  it  being  so  arranged  that  no  matter  how  hot  the  fires 
below,  the  warm  air  can  be  shut  off’,  and  cold  air  let  on  at  any  time  by  the  teacher,  so  that  fresh  air  is  con- 
stantly flowing  into  the  room.  On  Saturday  last,  when  the  thermometer  was  27°  below  zero,  the  rooms 
were  warmed  to  87°  above  in  about  two  hours.  Miss  Albin,  the  principal,  and  the  other  teachers  say  they 
have  never  occupied  more  pleasant  or  comfortably  heated  rooms. 

The  board  held  an  informal  meeting  at  the  school  house  after  this  examination,  with  Mr.  John  M.  Arm- 
strong in  the  chair,  and  voted  the  thanks  of  the  board  to  Mr.  Condit  for  the  satisfactory  manner  in  which 
he  had  introduced  the  apparatus,  expressing  satisfaction  with  the  operation  of  the  system. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the 

BOARD  OF  EDUCATION  OF  EAST  SAGINAW,  MICHIGAN, 

to  select  a system  of  warming  and  ventilation  for  the  new  school  building  about  to  be  erected  for  that  city, 
made  the  following  report,  which  we  copy  from  the  Saginaw  Herald  of  March  20th,  1884: 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  City  of  East  Saginaw  : 

Gentlemen,— N our  joint  committee  on  Building  and  School  Houses  would  respectfully  report  that,  as 
directed  at  the  special  meeting  February  27th,  they  have  investigated  somewhat  fully  the  matter  of  heating 
and  ventilating,  by  the  use  of  warm  air  furnaces,  and  also  by  steam.  As  known  to  this  board,  neither  method 
has  been  altogether  satisfactory  as  applied  in  our  schools,  so  a portion  of  the  committee  visited  Detroit  and 
Toledo,  where  steam  and  “ Ruttan-Smead  ” method  of  heating  and  ventilating  are  in  successful  operation. 

In  Detroit  we  visited  the  Irving  School  House,  a twelve  room  two-story  building,  which  is  the  best 
equipped  and  heated  of  any  of  the  large  school  buildings  of  that  city.  The  plan  of  heating  is  by  steam,  using 
direct  and  indirect  radiation.  Indirect  radiation  is  secured  by  coils  of  steam  pipes  located  in  recesses  left  in 
the  outside  walls  beneath  the  windows,  and  cased  in  by  galvanized  iron.  The  fresh  air  reaches  the  room 
through  gratings  in  the  wall  up  through  the  heated  coils  and  out  through  similar  gratings  placed  just  under 
the  window  sills.  Direct  radiation  is  obtained  by  piping  fastened  to  the  wainscoting  under  the  blackboard  in 
the  most  exposed  corner  of  the  room.  In  coldest  weather,  both  means  of  warming  are  used ; in  ordinary 
weather  only  the  indirect.  The  vitiated  air  is  removed  from  the  rooms  by  openings  into  ventilating  shafts 
similar  in  construction  to  those  in  our  High  School.  It  cost  the  School  Board,  in  running  order,  about  $4,000, 
as  certified  to  us  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Board.  It  requires  something  over  one  hundred  tons  of  hard  coal  to 
run  it  each  year.  In  Toledo  we  visited  a nine  room  building,  warmed  by  steam,  where  seventy-five  tons  of 
hard  coal  are  required  each  year.  This  apparatus  also  cost  $4,000. 

Those  members  of  the  Board  present  at  the  meeting  of  February  20th,  will  remember  that  an  agent  of 
the  ‘‘  Ruttan-Smead  ” method  of  heating  and  ventilating  was  present  and  explained  at  length  the  workings 
and  application  of  this  system.  To  observe  this  system  in  practical  operation,  we  were  taken  in  Toledo  to 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


54 

the  Humboldt  School,  where  we  found  the  system  adapted  to  six  rooms  of  this  twelve  room  three-story 
building.  The  remaining  six  rooms  of  the  twelve  room  house  were  warmed  by  a furnace  similar  to  those  in 
our  High  School. 

The  “ Ruttan-Smead  ” system  differs  from  all  ordinary  methods  of  warming  by  warm  air  furnaces,  in  that 
it  requires  ventilation  to  be  able  to  heat  successfully.  For  this  purpose  it  uses  a very  large  tubular  furnace 
that,  as  in  the  use  of  steam,  a large  warming  surface  may  be  presented  to  the  fresh  cold  air.  In  ventilation, 
instead  of  removing  the  vitiated  air  from  the  room  at  one  point,  it  takes  it  out  through  openings  in  the  base 
boards  communicating  directly  with  the  space  beneath  the  floors  and  between  the  joists,  from  which  it  is 
drawn  by  an  ample  ventilating  stack  into  the  open  air. 

In  this  twelve  room  building  we  had  an  excellent  opportunity  to  compare  the  old  and  the  improved 
methods  of  warming  and  ventilating,  as  the  Supervisor  of  Buildings  and  the  teachers  courteously  per- 
mitted us  to  visit  every  room,  going  in  and  out  from  one  side  of  the  house  to  the  other,  arranging  dampers, 
shutting  doors,  and  questioning  teachers  as  to  the  workings  of  each  furnace.  The  morning  of  our  visit,  there 
was  a strong  southwest  wind  and  the  thermometer  registered  eight  degrees  below  zero.  We  were  some  two 
hours  about  the  building.  The  result  of  our  observation  and  study  may  be  stated  as  follows : 

1.  That  in  the  room  warmed  by  the  “ Ruttan-Smead”  furnace  the  temperature  was  uniform  in  degree  in 
every  part,  with  no  perceptible  chilling  current  of  air  at  the  level  of  floor. 

2.  That  the  rooms  were  excellently  ventilated,  being  free,  as  far  as  we  could  discern,  from  that  close,  sour, 
enervating  odor  so  common  in  ordinary  school  rooms. 

3.  That  hy  the  use  of  a delicately  adjusted  air-meter,  we  observed  the  supply  of  fresh  warm  air  was 
sufficient  to  fill  the  room  every  twelve  minutes.  By  applying  the  same  means  of  measurement  to  the  venti- 
lating vent  in  the  base,  the  out-flow  of  vitiated  and  cold  air  corresponded  in  quantity  to  the  supply  of  fresh 
warm  air. 

4.  That  the  method  of  removing  the  foul  air  at  so  many  different  points  in  each  room,  virtually  prevents 
drafts  and  reduces  to  a minimum  the  breathing  over  again  by  the  pupils  of  vitiated  air. 

5.  That  by  means  of  a valve  or  door  in  the  warm  air  flues,  each  teacher  can  regulate  the  quantity  of 
inflowing  warm  air,  but  cannot  prevent  the  sufficient,  supply  of  pure  air.  thereby  making  it  unnecessary 
to  lower  windows. 

6.  That  from  the  Superintendent  of  Schools  and  Supervisor  of  Buildings  we  learned  for  the  year  1882-83 
that  less  soft  coal  was  consumed  in  the  '‘Ruttan-Smead”  furnaces  than  hard  coal  in  the  other  furnaces,  while 
ventilation  was  secured  in  one  set  of  rooms,  but  not  in  the  other;  that  the  attendance  was  better  on 
the  “ Ruttan-Smead  ” side,  on  the  same  enrollment,  than  on  the  other,  and  that  the  schools  were  not  dis- 
missed on  the  one,  and  were  on  the  other,  and  for  a time  equal  to  thirty  days  for  one  school.  We  submit 
herewith  their  certificates. 

Office  of  Superintendent  of  School  Buildings,  1 
Mr.  J.  C.  Jones  : Toledo,  Ohio,  March  5, 1884.  J 

Dear  Sir , — For  year  beginning  September  1,  1882,  and  ending  June  30,  1883,  the  following  amounts  of  coal 

were  used  in  Humboldt  School : six  rooms,  heated  by furnace,  took  56  tons  of  hard  coal,  at  $6.50  per 

ton ; six  rooms,  heated  by  Ruttan-Smead  furnaces,  took  46  tons  of  soft  coal,  at  $2.80  per  ton. 

August  Oeciisler, 
Superintendent  of  School  Buildings. 


J.  C.  Jones,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  East  Sagiijaw,  Mich.:  Toledo,  Ohio,  March  1,  1884. 

Dear  Sir, — In  answer  to  your  inquiries,  I would  say  we  have  a twelve-room  building,  six  rooms  heated  by 

Ruttan-Smead  systems,  and  six  rooms  heated  (and  poorly  heated)  by  the furnace.  An  accurate  account 

was  kept  for  the  year  1882-83  of  the  coal  furnished  each  side ; it  took  less  tons  of  soft  coal  for  the  Ruttan- 

Smead  side  than  of  hard  coal  for  the side.  The  Ruttan-Smead  side  was  not  only  heated,  but  what  is  of 

more  importance,  ventilated  also.  The side  was  not  well  heated  ; schools  having  to  be  dismissed  enough 

to  amount  to  a dismissal  of  one  school  for  at  least  thirty  days.  It  costs  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  dollars 

less  for  the  Ruttan-Smead  side  than  for  the side.  The  attendance,  based  on  same  monthly  enrollment, 

was  ten  better  for  each  day  on  the  Ruttan  than  it  was  on  the side.  I have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that 

I consider  the  Ruttan-Smead  system  the  best  of  any  heating  apparatus  we  have,  and  we  have  in  some  of  our 
buildings  steam  heating  hy  direct  and  indirect  radiation.  What  our  Board  thinks  of  it  may  be  seen  from  the 
fact  that  they  have  ordered  it  to  be  put  up  in  four  buildings  to  be  erected  this  summer,  in  addition  to  those 
in  which  we  already  have  it — seven  in  all.  Very  truly,  J.  W.  Dowd, 

Superintendent  and  Clerk  Toledo  City  Schools. 

Learning  that  these  furnaces  were  in  use  in  the  four  State  Normal  Schools  of  Wisconsin,  we  directed  the 
Superintendent  to  write  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Regents  controlling  them,  the  Hon.  W.  H.  Chandler. 
His  letter  is  herewith  appended : 

J.  C.  Jones,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  East  Saginaw,  Mich. : Madison,  Wis.,  March  5,  1884. 

Dear  Sir, — Yours  of  March  3 is  at  hand.  I very  cheerfully  give  you  all  the  information  I have  relating  to 
our  experience  with  the  “ Ruttan-Smead  ” heating  and  ventilating  system. 

1.  As  to  durability  and  efficiency,  we  have  found  the  furnaces  and  system  all  that  was  claimed  for  them. 
The  expense  for  repairs  and  the  renewal  of  parts  is  scarcely  anything.  A grate  has  to  be  renewed  occasion- 
ally, that  is  all. 

2.  We  can  depend  upon  their  efficiency  with  absolute  confidence.  Whatever  the  temperature  outside, 
that  of  the  school  rooms  is  comfortable.  And  this  means  that  the  rooms  are  ventilated  as  well  as  heated,  for 
it  is  impossible,  as  you  know,  by  this  system  to  keep  a room  warm  in  cold  weather,  unless  the  air  is  fre- 
quently changed. 

3.  We  have  no  complaints  now  of  prevalent  headache,  as  formerly,  with  steam  and  other  systems.  Our 
school  houses,  with  warm  corridors  and  rooms,  are  more  comfortable  than  most  homes,  and  no  weather  but 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE.  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


blizzards  which  intercept  going  to  and  from,  affects  our  attendance.  They  do  ventilate,  as  claimed,  wherever 
the  system  is  properly  planned  and  executed. 

4.  As  to  economy  in  fuel,  we  use  very  much  less  fuel  than  with  other  furnaces,  or  with  steam.  In  every 
case  now  our  rooms  are  equally  heated,  and  our  basements  are  not  red  hot  and  the  rest  of  the  building  cold. 
We  do  not  prefer  steam,  which  is  liable  to  freeze  up  and  fail  at  the  time  when  we  can  least  afford  to  have  it 
do  so. 

We  have  this  year  completed  the  substitution  of  the  “ Ruttan  & Smead  ” for  other  systems  in  our  normal 
school  buildings.  We  have  had  this  system  on  trial  now  for  five  years,  and  the  furnaces  show  no  signs  of 
failure.  We  are  more  than  pleased  with  the  system  in  all  respects,  and  congratulate  ourselves  we  are  now 
to  have  a long  rest  from  the  trouble  and  expense  of  changing  heating  and  ventilating  apparatus. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  W.  H.  Chandler, 

Secretary  Board  Regents  Normal  School. 

The  cost  of  placing  this  apparatus  in  our  new  proposed  building  will  be  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  with  guarantees  that  if  it  does  not  work  successfully,  it  shall  be  removed  and  money  refunded. 
From  all  herewith  presented,  and  from  what  we  have  learned  by  personal  investigation,  and  for  the  further 
reason  that  it  is  less  in  cost  than  steam  by  one-half,  and  uses  the  cheaper  fuel,  we  recommend  its  adoption  as 
a means  of  heating  the  new  building,  and  that  the  Secretary  enter  into  a contract  for  the  same  with  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  system,  Isaac  I).  Smead  & Co.,  Toledo,  Ohio,  on  the  basis  of  their  proposition  herewith  sub- 
mitted. All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted.  Jacob  Christopher, 

0.  H.  Hetherington, 

Francis  Brucker, 

S.  S.  Linton, 

W.  G.  Maier, 

Dated  March  19,  1884.  Joint  Committee  on  Buildings  and  School  Houses. 

Insp.  Lawrence  moved  that  the  report  be  received  and  filed,  and  the  recommendation  therein  contained 
adopted. 

Carried  as  follows : Ayes — Insps.  Brucker,  Camp,  Christopher,  Hetherington,  Law renee,  Linton,  Maier, 
Newton,  Seely,  and  the  President.  Nays — None. 

After  apparatus  referred  to  above  had  been  used  one  winter,  the  Bast  Saginaw  Board  of  Education 
have  contracted  with  us  to  remove  steam  apparatus  from  the  “Crary”  building,  and  introduce  t he  Ruttan  - 
Smead  apparatus,  and  are  also  introducing  same  in  a new  building  now  being  erected. — The  “ Houghton.” 

The  Saginaw^  City  Board  of  Education  contracted  with  us  to  furnish  apparatus  for  a new  building  during 
the  summer  of  1S84,  and  the  following  item  from  their  local  paper  may  be  of  interest: 

The  board  of  education  contracted  yesterday  with  Isaac  Smead  & Co.  for  the  necessary  heating  and  ven- 
tilating apparatus  for  the  new  sixth  ward  building.  The  contract  price  is  $1,580.  This  company  put  the 
heating  apparatus  into  the  Hill  building,  and  it  proved  very  satisfactory  last  winter. — Saginaw  Courier. 


56 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


RTJTTAN-SMEAD 


SYSTEM  OF  WARMING 


AND  VENTILATING 


ON  LONG  ISLAND. 


ISLIP’S  NEW  SCHOOL  BUILDING. 


rnHE  village  of  Islip  has  recently  completed  one  of  the  finest  and  most  eligible  school  buildings  to  be  found 
I anywhere  in  the  state  of  New  York.  * * * 

By  far  the  most  important  thing  the  Building  Committee  had  to  consider  was  the  heating  and  ventila- 
tion of  the  new  building.  Various  systems  were  investigated,  and  numerous  buildings  supposed  to  be  perfect 
in  this  respect  visited,  among  them  the  school  building  at  Greenport,  where  steam  is  used.  A physician 
who  visited  this  school  says  that  he  found  it  very  poorly  ventilated,  and  the  air  in  the  rooms  so  foul  that  it 
was  a shame  to  compel  the  pupils  to  breathe  it. 

After  numerous  interviews  and  much  inquiry  and  correspondence,  the  committee  selected  as  best  the 
Ruttan-Smead  system  of  Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co.,  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  they  are  satisfied  that  this  choice  was  a 
wise  one.  The  system  acts  upon  the  principle  that  it  makes  a house  breathe  just  as  a man  does.  It  is  so 
arranged  that  all  the  air  in  the  btiilding  must  enter  a warm  air  room  in  the  basement  and  become  sufficiently 
warm  before  entering  the  school  rooms,  where  it  makes  its  exit  from  a ventilator  along  the  floor,  under  each 
window,  from  whence  it  is  conducted  to  the  foul  air  room,  where  it  makes  its  exit  to  the  foul  air  stack.  The 
temperature  of  the  rooms  whether  at  floor,  ceiling  or  windows,  varies  only  two  or  three  degrees  by  actual 
test,  and  it  is  found  by  testing  with  an  air  meter  that  the  total  volume  of  air  is  changed  once  in  every  eleven 
minutes. 

Thus  the  air  is  just  as  fresh  as  it  is  out  of  doors ; there  is  no  odor,  and  at  4 o’clock  the  air  is  as  pure  and 
fresh  as  in  the  early  morning  hours.  It  has  not  been  necessary  to  open  a window  for  ventilating  purposes 
since  the  school  house  has  been  in  use.  The  system  costs  less  than  steam,  and  is  in  every  respect  the  most 
perfect  known.  Dr.  Dio  Lewis,  the  famous  medical  writer  and  authority,  recently  visited  this  school  build- 
ing and  thought  it  admirable  in  every  particular,  and  especially  as  far  as  the  heating  and  ventilating  were 
concerned.  He  was  skeptical  on  this  point  before  his  visit,  and  he  said  he  was  convinced,  from  what  he  had 
seen,  of  the  superiority  of  the  system  adopted  by  the  building  committee. 

The  tests  applied  by  the  makers  to  their  system  were  severe  ones.  One  was  to  close  all  the  windows, 
doors,  and  registers,  and  to  fill  a room  with  dense  smoke.  In  twenty  minutes  the  room  was  free  of  smoke, 
and  the  air  as  pure  as  that  outside,  and  this  was  all  done  without  opening  a door  or  window.  There  are 
10,000  pounds  of  iron  in  the  furnaces.  They  are  heavy,  simple,  and  will  last  for  years.  The  Superintendent 
of  construction  of  schools  of  New  York  City  was  invited  to  inspect  the  school  building,  but  with  that  charac- 
teristic indifference  born  of  political  life  he  preferred  to  stay  at  home. 

In  all  New  York  City  there  is  not  a properly  ventilated  school  building,  and  School  Commissioner  Devoe 
recently  said  that  something  must  soon  be'done  to  remedy  this  defect,  and  that  death  frequently  occurred  from 
poor  ventilation  and  overcrowding.  We  fear  New  York  does  not  stand  alone  in  this  respect.  Foul  school 
rooms,  breeding  the  germs  of  disease  and  death,  are  scattered  all  over  the  land,  a blot  on  the  face  of  nature, 
and  a standing  disgrace  to  willful  indifference  of  mankind.  School  Commissioner  Douglas  Conklin  says  the 
Islip  school  building  is  the  finest  equipped  he  ever  visited,  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to  add  that  nowhere  can 
its  superior  be  found. — Advance  Patchogue,  L.  /.,  Feby.  14. 


COST  OF  WARMING  SCHOOL  BUILDINGS. 
IN  TOLEDO  SCHOOLS. 


For  winter  of  1S84-5  : 

With  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus $22.79  per  school  room. 

With  steam  heating  apparatus 52.68  “ “ 

With  hot  air  furnace 86.25  “ “ 


IN  DETROIT. 

With  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus  (frame  building) $25.25  per  school  room. 

With  steam  heating  apparatus  (brick  building) 54.00  “ “ 

IN  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

With  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus $24.20  per  school  room. 

With  steam  heating  apparatus 56.00  “ “ 


ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 

With  Ruttan-Smead $15.50  per  school  room. 

With  steam 40.70  “ “ 

With  hot  air  furnace 37.50  “ “ 

There  are  ninety-nine  school  rooms  in  Toledo,  warmed  by  the  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus,  nearly  as  many 
in  Washington. — Toledo  Blade,  May  IS. 

There  are  now  127  school  rooms  in  Toledo,  warmed  by  our  apparatus — Oct.  1.  Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co. 


To  Whom  it  may  Concern  : Elyria,  O.,  May  14, 1884. 

We  have  had  in  use  since  the  10th  of  September,  1883,  two  No.  8,  and  one  No.  7,  Ruttan-Smead 
Furnace.  These  furnaces  have  been  used  to  heat  and  ventilate  a school  building.  The  following  statements 
will  show  how  well  the  work  has  been  done : 

1.  They  have  warmed  121,960  cubic  feet  of  school  room,  besides  frequently  allowing  heat  to  escape  into 
the  halls.  This  is  equal  to  ten  rooms  of  12,196  cubic  feet  per  room,  and  that  is  larger  than  the  average  school 
room. 

2.  They  have  ventilated  these  rooms  better  than  I have  ever  known  school  rooms  to  be  ventilated  in  an 
experience  of  a quarter  of  a century  in  the  profession  of  teaching. 

3.  They  have  ventilated  equally  well  the  water  closets  in  the  basement  of  the  building. 

4.  For  two  weeks  during  cold  weather,  six  observations  of  the  temperature  of  the  High  School  room, 
which  is  48  x 50  x 16,  were  made  daily,  from  8.30  a.m.,  to  3 p.m.  At  every  one  of  the  sixty  observations  the 
temperature  was  68°  or  70°,  F.  The  thermometer  registering  the  above  was  about  three  feet  from  the  floor.  A 
thermometer  was  placed  upon  the  floor  and  remained  there  all  day.  Six  observations  were  made,  and  it 
was  68°  each  time. 

When  the  mercury  was  10°  below  zero  on  Monday  morning,  there  having  been  no  fire  in  the  building 
since  the  preceding  Friday,  the  fires  in  the  furnaces  were  built  at  5.30  and  8.30  the  temperature  in  all  the 
rooms  was  70°. 

As  our  building  was  new,  we  started  fires  every  day  after  entering  it,  the  10th  of  September,  and  we  have 
had  but  few  days  this  spring  when  we  have  not  started  a fire  in  the  morning. 

The  three  furnaces  have  consumed  exactly  sixty-three  tons  of  soft  lump  coal.  Ventilating  stoves  (?) 
heating  the  same  amount  of  space,  have  consumed  70  tons  of  the  same  kind  of  coal,  and  have  poorly 
ventilated  the  rooms.  We  have  saved  in  fuel,  gained  in  even  temperature  and  in  ventilation. 

A recent  examination  into  the  condition  of  the  furnaces,  showed  them  to  be  in  a good  state  of  preserva- 
tion, and  they  need  no  repairs. 

I am  convinced  from  careful  observation  that  the  Ruttan-Smead  Apparatus  will  do  all  that  is  claimed  for 
it,  if  the  directions  are  carefully  followed,  and  any  careful  man  of  average  intelligence  can  learn  to  run  the 
apparatus  successfully.  Respectfully, 

11.  M.  Parker, 

Superintendent  of  Schools,  Elyria,  O. 


58 


NOKTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


A GROUP  OF  “HOT  AIR  FURNACES." 

(Which  is  the  best  ? See  page  5.) 

(These  cuts  are  introduced  here  to  show  the  faulty  construction  common  to  all  “ Hot  Air”  Furnaces.) 


A GROUP  OF  HOT  AIR  FURNACES. 

(Which  is  the  best?  See  page  5.) 

(These  eats  are  introduced  here  to  show  the  faulty  construction  common  to  all  “ Hot  Air  ” Furnaces.) 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y 


60 


EXTERIOR  VIEW  OF  RUTTAN-SMEAD  TUBULAR  AIR  WARMER. 

(1885  Pattern.) 

The  largest  size  is  thirteen  feet  long,  sis  feet  high,  five  feet  wide,  and  weighs  about  three  tons.  (For  description,  see  pages  5, 16  and  20.) 


61 


GRATE. 

INTERIOR  VIEW  RUTTAN-SMEAD  TUBULAR  AIR  WARMER. 

18S5  Pattern. 


N0RT1IC0TT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


(53 


THE  RUTTAN-SMEAD  TUBULAR  AIR  WARMER. 

(1885  Pattern.) 

View  showing  interior,  with  fire  burning.  (With  heavy  fire,  flame  will  extend  entire  length  of  small  flues,  as  shown  above. 


LONGITUDINAL  SECTION,  RUTTAN-SME AD  TUBULAR  AIR  WARMER. 

(1S85  Pattern.) 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


65 


TRANSVERSE  SECTION  OF  RUTTAN-SMEAD  TUBULAR  AIR  WARMER, 

(Represented  on  page  60.) 

We  desire  to  call  especial  attention  to  tlie  patent  grate  shown  above.  We  paid  a large  amount  for  patent  and  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  the 

best  grate  ever  made,  for  either  soft  coal  or  wood. 


66 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


SOUTH  STREET  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  TOLEDO,  OHIO. 

D.  W.  GIBBS  «i  CO.,  TOLEDO,  ARCHITECTS. 

For  basement  plans,  floor  plans,  sections  and  instructions,  see  pages  23,  24,  G7,  68,  69,  70,  71,  72, 

73,  74,  75,  76,  77. 


NORTTICOTT  A STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


BASEMENT  PLAN  SOUTH  STREET  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  TOLEDO,  OHIO. 


Showing  Furnaces,  Cold  Air  Rooms,  Foul  Air  Rooms,  Smead’s  System  of  Dry  Closets,  Warm  Air  Flues, 

Ventilating  and  Smoke  Flue. 


(See  pages  23  and  24.) 


68 


NORTIICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


FIRST  FLOOR  PLAN. 

SCALE  jr,  INCH  — 1 CT 


SOUTH  STREET  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  TOLEDO,  OHIO. 

Representing,  by  breaks  in  the  floors,  the  passage  of  air  tinder  them ; location  of  main  air  register  in 
school  rooms  and  corridors,  and  also  location  of  foul  air  exits  before  it  passes  under  floor. 

See  page  GG  for  perspective  of  building,  and  page  19  for  explanation  of  system  of  warming  and  ventilating. 


N0RT1 ICOTT  A STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


69 


PLAN  OF  SECOND  FLOOR  SOUTH 


STREET  SCHOOL 


BUILDING,  TOLEDO,  O. 


For  explanation  see  pages  23  and  24. 


Hawwns  ONiana 
X3VHS  0NIXY3IXN3A 
XY3H  OX  30VNHH3  33YRS 


■■■ 


— ■ 


SECTION,  LINE  C.  C.  SHOWING  DRY  CLOSETS  IN  SOUTH  STREET  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  TOLEDO, 


/ 7 7 7 TigaiBMM 
7 


. <u 

2 ° 
of 


rC  O 

oq-2 
O g 


X 


co 

be 


PERSPECTIVE  VIEW  OF  ONE  SCHOOLROOM  IN  SOUTH  STREET  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  TOLEDO,  0. 
SHOWING  WARM  AIR  REGISTER,  VALVE  REGULATOR,  FOUL  AIR  EXITS, 

FLOOR  JOISTS,  AND  FURRING  STRIPS. 


„ 


mm 


74 


Isometric  Drawing,  representing  one  of  the  furnaces,  cold  air  room  and  warm  air  flues,  in  the  South  Street  School  Building,  Toledo,  Ohio. 

B.  Air  Warmer  (furnace).  C.  Cold  Air  room.  D.  Entrance  of  cold  air  to  Warm  Air  Flue.  E.  Valve  to  control  supply  of  warm  and  cold  air.  With  valve  E closed  as  shown,  cold  air  will  go  to 
room  through  the  opening  at  bottom  of  flue  as  shown  at  “D."  See  article  on  page  21,  referring  to  Smead's  System  of  “ continuous  ventilation.” 


REuU  LA] 


COLD 


COLD 


OPENING 


ROOM 


SECTION,  LINE  B.  B.  SHOWING  COLD  AIR  ROOM, 
FURNACE,  AND  WARM  AIR  FLUE. 


J&ckt-  $ ^rowbndgt  JiUdo,  0 


SCHOOL  ROOM. 


This  Lithograph  is  made  to  illustrate 
ISAAC  D.  S MEAT’S 
System  of  Continuous  Ventilation 
in  the  South  Street  School  Building, 
TOLEDO,  OHIO. 

Notk. — This  is  always  used  in  all  our  school  work;  is  pro- 
tected by  patent  granted  Isaac  I).  Sinead. 


u 


R 


EX 


R. 


(South  Street  School  Building,  Toledo,  Ohio.  Also  in  fifteen  other  school  buildings,  Toledo.) 


VIEW  OF  REGISTER  AND  REGULATOR. 

(.See  page  21.) 

76 


This  is  the  plan  referred  to  in  lithograph  G,  page  34.  This  system  of  floor  construction  is  protected  by  a patent  owned  by  the  live  companies  in  whose  interest  this  book  is  published. 


78 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


a,  Warm  Air  Pipes,  b,  Cold  Air  Box. 

BASEMENT  PLAN  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  YOUNGSTOWN,  OHIO. 
Showing  application  “ Hot  Air  ” System  of  Warming.  For  explanation  see  pages  18,  79  and  80. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


79 


BASEMENT  PLAN  OF  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  YOUNGSTOWN,  OHIO. 

Showing  application  of  Euttan-Smead  System  of  Warming. 

See  pages  IS,  7S,  and  SO. 


so 


NORTH GOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


FLAX  OF  FIRST  STORY  OF  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  YOUNGSTOWN,  OHIO. 

See  pages  18,  78  and  79. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


81 


Smead’s  School  Room  Heater. 


(See  pages  82,  83,  84,  85  and  86.) 


rPIIE  cuts  on  pages  83  and  84  represent  the  Ventilating  Heater  we  are  now  manufacturing 
1 for  use  in  school  or  other  buildings  where  a furnace  cannot  well  be  introduced.  The  favor 
with  which  our  School  Room  Heater  has  been  received  by  school  directors,  church  trustees, 
merchants  and  others,  has  induced  us  to  expend  a large  sum  in  adding  new  features  which,  we 
think,  will  make  it  by  far  the  most  popular  ventilating  stove  ever  manufactured.  The  advantages 
of  an  open'  fire  over  a closed  one,  in  the  matter  of  warming  the  feet  and  conducting  the  foul 
gases  from  the  room,  are  too  apparent  to  require  comment  from  us. 

The  first  ventilating  stove  ever  made  was  patented  by  Mr.  Ruttan.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  a great  many  of  his  stoves  have  been  manufactured;  but  as  they  were  only  suitable  for 
burning  wood , we  could  not  meet  the  demand  for  a coal  burner.  We  are  aware  that  there  are  other 
ventilating  stoves  (so  called)  in  the  West,  and  have  examined  them  all  with  great  care.  We 
made  the  examination  with  the  intention  of  buying  the  right  to  manufacture  the  one  best  suited 
to  the  work — that  is,  warming  with  a volume  of  air  instead  of  by  radiation.  By  our  examination 
we  learned  that  all  schoolroom  stoves  were  but  little  more  than  a common  cannon  stove  with  a 
sheet-iron  case,  and  that  the  amount  of  air  they  would  warm  was  by  far  too  small  to  properly 
ventilate  a schoolroom. 

The  principles  upon  which  we  have  constructed  our  stove  are  substantially  the  same  as  we 
have  heretofore  used  in  our  furnace,  towit  : a large  amount  of  actual  fire  surface,  large  fire-box, 
and  more  than  twice  the  grate  surface  of  any  other  heater.  The  casing  being  of  cast-iron  radiates 
less  heat,  is  more  ornamental,  and  less  liable  to  injury  by  rust  or  blows  from  pupils  than  if  made 
of  sheet-iron. 

We  guarantee  the  Heater  to  burn  soft  coal  or  wood  equally  well,  although  it  is  made  with 
especial  reference  to  the  consumption  of  soft  coal.  Its  weight  is  about  four  times  ccs  much  as 
other  stores,  and  great  care  has  been  used  to  make  it  durable. 


82 


D I R E C T R ADIATION. 

A possible  condition  of  a School  Room  warmed  (in  part)  with  a common  radiating  stove.  If  the  pupils  were  permitted  to  “speak  their  mind,”  the  above 
would  very  truly  represent  the  scene.  See  report  of  W.  S.  Frazier,  page  121. 


The  condition  of  a School  Room  with  Smead’s  School-Room  Heater,  (See  page  81.) 


Smoke 


84 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


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FLOOR  AND  GROUND  PLANS  OF  THE  MODEL  DISTRICT  SCHOOL. 

(See  page  86.) 


86 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


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NORTHC'OTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


ST 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  B U I L DING,  1 1 Y D E PARK,  ILL 

Warmed  and  Ventilated  by  Ruttan-Smead  System. 


88 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


HUMBOLDT  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  TOLEDO,  OHIO. 

There  are  sixteen  school  buildings  in  Toledo  (of  which  the  above  is  a duplicate  of  eight)  warmed  and  ventilated  with  the  Ruttan-Smead  Apparatus. 

(See  pages  50  and  54.) 


NOKTHC0TT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


89 


HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  WEST  DENVER,  COLORADO. 


Louis  Rochat,  Atchison,  Kansas: 


Office  of  the  Board  of  Education,  District  No.  2. 

Denver,  Colorado,  April  26,  1881. 


Dear  Sir, — In  reply  to  yours  of  the  14th  inst.,  I would  say  that  we  have  in  our  city  six  school  buildings  heated  by  the 
Ruttan  System,  four  that  are'  heated  by  steam,  and  several  by  the  hot  air  system,  and  we  consider  the  Ruttan  System  of  heating 
and  ventilating  superior  to  all  of  them,  both  in  economy  and  results. 

The  Central  School  is  a six-room  building,  erected  in  1880,  and  heated  by  two  Ruttan  Furnaces,  which  cost  us  $1,350; 
whereas  the  lowest  bid  we  were  able  to  get  to  heat  it  by  steam  was  $1,850.  The  cost  of  repairs  on  these  to  date  (three  years)  is 
$17.00.  * * * * The  amount  of  coal  charged’ to  this  building  last  year  was  $278.25. 

The  Ebert  School  is  an  eight-room  building,  erected  in  1880,  and  is  heated  by  steam.  The  expense  for  repairs  alone  on  the 
apparatus  last  year  was  $118  50.  The  amount  of  coal  charged  to  the  Ebert  for  the  last  year  was  $531.90. 

The  Franklin  School  * * * contains  thirteen  school  rooms,  Superintendent’s  office,  two  wardrobes  to  each  room, 

a Director’s  office  and  two  very  large  halls  * * is  heated  by  four  Ruttan  Furnaces  and  has  been  in  use  one  winter — no 

expense  for  repairs.  The  amount  of  coal  charged  to  this  building  for  the  year  is  $510.00.  An  exact  record  was  kept  for  the 
month  of  January  last,  and  the  building  was  warmed  twenty-six  days  and  consumed  nineteen  tons  of  soft  coal. 

The  Gilpin  School  is  a twelve-room  building  and  is  heated  by  steam  ; was  built  about  two  years  ago.  The  expense  for 
repairs  on  heating  apparatus  last  year  was  $148.00  and  the  amount  of  coal  charged  to  it  was  $744.25.' 

The  Longfellow  School  is  an  eight-room  building,  heated  by  the  hot  air  system.  It  cost,  for  fuel  last  year  $494.39. 

The  Fairmount  School  is  a six-room  building,  heated  by  the  Ruttan  System  for  two  winters,  and  no  expense  for  repairs. 
It  cost  us  for  fuel  last  winter  $220.50. 

The  other  three  buildings  heated  by  the  Ruttan  System  have  been  in  use  one  and  two  winters  with  no  expense  for 
repairs,  and  the  amount  of  fuel  used  is  substantially  the  same  as  those  given.  I think  the  record  of  the  buildings  mentioned 
sufficient  to  establish  the  fact  that  the  Ruttan  System  is  the  most  economical  in  three  things:  first  cost,  fuel,  and  repairs, 
besides  having  the  advantage  of  giving  belter  results  in  ventilation.  We  have  two  men  on  our  board  who  are  practical  steam 
men,  and  thoroughly  understand  the  steam  system,  and  they  are  opposed  to  the  use  of  steam  where  heat  and  ventilation  only 
are  required.  * * * They  are  at  the  head  of  the  Denver  & Rio  Grand  shops  * * * and  are  perfectly  aware 
of  the  petty  annoyances  of  burnt  crown«heets,  leaking  flues,  sediment  deposits,  condensation  of  steam  in  pipes,  freeze-ujrs, 
bursting  pipes,  leaking  joints,  etc.,  etc.,  to  say  nothing  of  its  first  cost.  In  conclusion,  let  me  say  that  there  comes  a time  in 
the  history  of  every  boiler  when  it  must  come  out  either  for  repairs  or  to  be  replaced  by  a new  one,  either  of  which  is  very 
expensive,  while  everything  connected  with  the  Ruttan  System  that  is  liable  to  wear  out  can  be  replaced  at  small  cost  and 
without  detriment  to  ihe  building  or  furnaces. 

Please  excuse  delay,  as  1 wished  to  examine  the  books  before  answering,  so  as  to  give  exact  figures. 

We  pay  five  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  ($5.25)  per  ton  for  soft  coal. 

Respectfully  yours, 

A.  D.  Shepard,  President  oj  the  Board. 


90 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


RUSH  MEDICAL  COLLEGE,  CHICAGO. 

We  refer  by  permission  to  Norman  Bridge,  M.  D.,  for  many  years  Professor  of  Hygiene  and  Adjunct 
Professor  of  the  Principles  and  Practices  of  Medicine  in  Rush  Medical  College,  and  Ex-President  of  Chicago 
Board  of  Education. 

The  size  of  the  building  is  62  by  80  feet,  independent  of  projections  on  the  sides  and  in  front,  of  four  and 
three  feet  respectively.  The  height  is  80  feet. 

On  the  floor  above  is  the  lower  or  chemical  lecture-room,  38  by  69  feet,  and  18  feet  high. 

On  the  third  floor  is  the  upper  lecture-room,  the  amphitheater,  49  bv  69  feet,  and  36  feet  high,  reaching 
into  the  mansard  roof,  and  lighted  in  part  by  a skylight  16  by  20  feet-  In  the  rear  of  this  room  is  the  museum, 
35  by  48  feet  and  19  feet  high;  while  under  the  seats  of  the  amphitheater  are  eight  rooms  used  for  the 
accommodation  of  different  professors,  and  for  various  other  purposes  of  the  college.  The  seats  of  both  rooms 
are  arranged  on  the  amphitheater  plan.  The  upper  lecture-room  has  362  numbered  seats;  the  lower  316. 
The  seats  are  in  the  style  of  opera  chairs,  with  iron  frames  and  hardwood  furnishing. 

Over  the  museum  is  the  dissecting-room,  25  by  64  feet  and  19  feet  high.  This  room  is  lighted  by  windows 
on  three  sides  and  by  a skylight  7 by  16  feet ; it  is  provided  with  an  asphalt  floor. 

A very  thorough  investigation  was  made  by  building  committee  before  contract  for  heating  and  ventilation 
was  let,  and  the  “Ruttan”  was  unanimously  adopted. — Annual  Report. 


Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago. 

J.  E.  Simpson,  Decorah,  Iowa  : 

Dear  Sir, — Your  letter  of  the  24th  inst.  came  duly  to  hand.  In  reply  to  your  interrogatories  I would  say 
that  we  do  gref  the  proper  degree  of  heat  and  ventilation  in  the  coldest  weather  from  our  heating  and  ventilat- 
ing apparatus.  I think  the  system  is  decidedly  a success,  and  there  is  nothing  in  use  in  the  way  of  heating 
apparatus  for  public  buildings  equal  to  the  Ruttan  System.  Very  truly  yours, 

Joseph  P.  Ross,  M.D. 


XORTIICOTT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


'll 


MOUNT  CARROLL  FEMALE  SEMINARY,  MOUNT  CARROLL,  ILL. 

(See  page  110.) 

The  new  and  a portion  of  the  old  buildings  are  heated  by  Ruttan  Furnaces  and  ventilated  by  the  Ruttan 
System.  The  admirable  system  of  heating  and  ventilation  here  in  use  seems  so  nearly  perfect  as  to  remove 
all  possible  objections  to  warm-air  furnaces.  Four  Ruttan  Furnaces  warm  evenly  some  eighty  rooms,  of  great 
variety  of  size,  from  the  bath  and  private  rooms,  twelve  by  fourteen  feet,  up  to  the  size  of  sitting-rooms, 
parlors,  library,  dining-room,  the  last  being  forty-four  feet  square  ; ceilings  of  height  from  nine  to  twelve  feet. 
Each  room  has  an  independent  flue  of  brick,  conveying  the  heat  direct  from  a sheet-iron  reservoir,  which  is 
seventy  feet  long  by  six  feet  wide  and  two  feet  deep.  This  reservoir  is  supplied  with  pure  air  direct  from  the 
tubular  furnaces.  The  construction  of  the  furnaces  is  such  that  they  are  never  heated  to  redness,  hence  the 
air  is  never  “ burned.”  The  tubular  arrangement  applies  the  principle  of  the  locomotive  boiler,  only  that  the 
furnace  is  surrounded  by  air  instead  of  wafer.  The  great  amount  of  heating  surface  thus  exposed  admits  of  a 
large  volume  of  pure,  cold  air,  which  is  not  burned  and  deoxidized  as  in  many  furnaces,  but  warmed  by 
a pleasant,  healthful  temperature.  To  perfect  the  warming  of  each  room  the  system  of  ventilation  used  in 
connection  with  these  furnaces,  is  the  more  important  feature.  A large  chimney  is  located  in  the  center  of 
the  building,  a small  part  of  which  is  used  for  the  smoke  from  the  furnaces,  and  thus  the  volume  of  air  in  the 
larger  part  is  heated,  adding  to  the  draft.  The  air  passes  from  the  room  through  perforated  iron  base,  under 
the  floors  and  down  the  partitions  to  base  of  the  exhausting  or  ventilating  chimney  ; thus  there  is  a constant 
draft  upon  all  the  air  ot  the  building,  and  the  capacity  of  the  box  supplying  fresh  air,  and  the  exhaust 
chimney,  are  such  as  to  allow  complete  change  of  the  air  in  the  building  every  half  hour.  As  we  have  said, 
eveiy  room  is  evenly  warmed,  the  temperature  at  floor  and  ceiling  varying  only  1 to  4°,  all  the  heat  in  the 
air  passing  from  rooms  to  exhaust  flue  being  utilized  in  warming  the  floors.  A thermometer  is  furnished  to 
every  room,  and  the  standard  temperature  is  70°.  The  same  system  is  here  applied  to  the  ventilation  of  the 
“water-closets”  (or  more  properly  here,  “ dry-closets  ”),  which  are  thereby  kept  from  all  offense,  something 
rarely  attained  to  in  so  large  a household.  On  the  whole,  we  are  convinced,  by  the  uniformly  pleasant  and 
healthful  atmosphere  we  find  pervading  the  seminary,  that  the  method  here  in  use  cannot  be  excelled,  and 
that  to  it  some  of  the  credit  is  due  for  the  uniform  good  health  among  the  members  of  the  institution. — Iowa 
Homestead. 


92 


NORTHCOTT  & STNE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


FAYETTE  COUNTY  (OHIO)  COURT  HOUSE. 

D.  W.  GIBBS  & CO.,  TOLEDO,  OHIO,  ARCHITECTS. 

After  a very  thorough  investigation  of  the  various  plans  for  warming  and  ventilating  public  buildings, 
the  Commissioners  made  the  following  report.  * * * The  bid  of  Isaac  D.  Srnead  & Co.  being 
the  lowest,  and  their  system  being,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commissioners,  the  best,  the  award  is 

made  to  them.  * * - * . . 

Robt.  S.  Sutherland,  ) Commissioners  of 

W.  J.  Hornet,  R.  S.  Eyre,  1 Fayette  Co.,  0. 


James  P.  Robinson 


Auditor. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  X.  V. 


93 


HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  OTTAWA,  KANSAS. 

Office  of  Board  of  Education,  Ottawa,  Kan..  January  30,  1885. 

Robert  Elliott,  Church  Building  Committee,  Hannibal,  Mo. : 

Dear  Sir— l take  pleasure  in  stating  that  we  have  used  the  Ruttan  System  of  warming  and  ventilating  in 
our  high  school  building  continually  for  thirteen  years.  This  building  is  a large,  three-story,  twelve-room 
building.  We  also  introduced  it  last  year  in  a sixteen-room  building.  I can  say  that  it  has  given  us  excellent 
satisfaction,  and  we  are  well  pleased  with  it.  ^ cry  respectfully  yours, 

A.  Dobson,  President  Board  of  Education. 


94 


NORTH COTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


\ 


DISTRICT  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  RIVER  FALLS,  WISCONSIN. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  68  Lake  Street,  Chicago  : River  Falls,  Wis.,  March  27, 1885. 

Gentlemen, — At  the  close  of  the  hardest  winter  Wisconsin  has  known  in  twenty  years,  it  gives  me  pleasure 
to  testify  that  the  "Warming  and  Ventilating  Apparatus  which  you  placed  in  our  main  building  has  fully  met 
the  severe  demand  made  upon  it.  "With  weeks  of  weather  during  which  the  mercury  constantly  marked  25  to 
40°  below  zero,  we  have  had  no  difficulty  in  maintaining  our  rooms  at  a temperature  of  72°  Fahrenheit,  and 
securing  a complete  change  of  air  every  twenty-five  minutes.  I hope  to  see  this  system  more  thoroughly  in- 
troduced in  the  new  public  buildings  of  our  state.  Very  truly, 

C.  H.  Keyes,  Principal  of  Schools. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINK,  KLMIRA,  N.  V. 


jir> 


HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  NORWALK,  OHIO. 

L.  D.  C.ROSVENOR,  JACKSON,  MICH.,  ARCHITECT. 

(See  Canton  report,  page  — .) 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  HEATING  AND  VENTILATION. 

Norwalk,  Ohio,  June  14,  1883. 

A Committee  of  the  Board  of  Education,  consisting  of  Mr.  Boughton,  Mr.  Knapp,  Mr.  Parker,  Doctor 
Hildereth  and  Mr.  Williams,  would  report  that  they  have  jointly  or  severally  examined  the  system  of  heating 
by  steam  and  also  by  warm  air,  as  used  in  the  school  building  at  Jackson,  Mich.,  at  Fostoria,  at  the  new 
high  school  building  in  Cleveland,  at  Painesville,  at  Toledo,  and  at  Defiance,  for  the  purpose  of  determining 
upon  the  best  system  for  heating  and  ventilating  our  new  Central  School  house,  and  we  think  we  may  say 
that  we  have  given  to  this  subject  much  more  thorough  and  careful  investigation  than  is  usually  given  to  it  in 
connection  with  public  buildings,  for  we  regard  heating  and  ventilation  as  of  paramount  importance  to  the 
health  and  comfort  of  our  scholars,  and  the  result  of  our  investigation  is  that  for  combined  heating  and  ventilation 
we  find  the  system  known  as  the  Rultan-Smead  Warm  A ir  Heat  ing  and  Ventilating  has  proved  the  most  efficient  in  prac- 
tical use  of  any  that  we  have  found,  and  we  recommend  its  adoption  in  our  new  school  building,  and  we  would 
further  recommend  that  the  proposition  of  Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co.  (Ruttan  Heating  and  Ventilating  Company) 
to  warm  and  ventilate  our  building  in  accordance  with  their  contract  which  they  propose  for  our  acceptance, 
be  accepted  by  the  Board.  We  would  further  say  that  while  we  think  it  the  best  system,  the  cost  of  putting 
it  in  is  but  about  one-half  of  steam  heating,  so  far  as  we  have  investigated. 

Tiieo.  Williams,  j 
E.  G.  Boughton, 

S.  P.  Hildereth,  Committee. 
Geo.  W.  Parker, 

Geo.  W.  Knapp, 

The  President  and  Clerk  of  the  Board  were  authorized  and  instructed  to  contract  with  the  Ruttan  Heat- 
ing and  Ventilating  Company,  in  accordance  with  their  proposition  submitted. 

May  1, 1885.  Their  experience  has  in  every  particular  shown  the  wisdom  of  their  action. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  BUILDING  AT  ROCHELLE,  SHELBYVILLE,  TUSCOLA,  ILL.,  AND 

MICHIGAN  CITY,  IND. 

G.  P.  RANDALL,  ARCHITECT. 

ALL  HEATED  BY  THE  RDTTAN  FURNACES.  WARMED  AND  VENTILATED  BY  THE  RUTTAN  SYSTEM. 

Office  First  National  Bank,  Rochelle,  III.,  August  4,  1876. 

E.  M.  Evans,  See’y  Board  of  Education,  etc.,  Vinton,  Iowa. 

Dear  Sir, — Yours  of  July  25  came  to  hand  this  morning.  The  Ruttan  system  of  ventilation  w'orks  to  perfection  with  us. 
It  keeps  the  rooms  constantly  full  of  fresh  air,  and  the  foul  air  passes  out  as  fast  as  the  fresh  air  comes  in.  The  teachers  do 
not  complain  of  the  dizziness  they  formerly  did.  We  attribute  the  great  change  to  the  introduction  of  the  Ruttan  furnace  in 
connection  with  the  ventilation,  thereby  receiving  a large  amount  of  pure,  outdoor  air  throughout  every  room.  We  have  saved 
in  coal  alone  nearly  $800  per  annum,  and  the  furnaces  are  but  little  worn,  and  not  a dollar  has  been  spent  on  them  for  repairs 
since  we  first  put  them  in  the  building — four  years  ago. 

Yours  respectfully,  A.  Bain,  President  Board  of  Education. 

Note. — This  building  was  formerly  heated  by  six furnaces,  in  which  they  were  obliged  to  use  hard  coal,  at  an 

enormous  expense.  We  replaced  them  with  four  of  our  Tublar  Furnaces,  which  are  especially  designed  for  the  use  of  soft  coal  — 
hence  the  great  saving  in  fuel. 

At  this  date  (October  1,  1881)  less  than  twenty-five  dollars  has  been  expended  for  repairs,  and  furnaces  are  apparently  as 
good  as  when  set. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


ONE  OF  THE  MADISON  UNIVERSITY  BUILDINGS. 


T.  I.  LACEY,  BING  HAMPTON,  X.  Y\,  ARCHITECT. 

Warmed  and  ventilated  by  the  Ruttan-Smead  System. 


9S 


NORTHCOTT  & STIXE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y 


SOLDIERS’  MEMORIAL  HALL,  TOLEDO,  OHIO. 

D.  W.  GIBBS  A CO.,  TOLEDO,  ARCHITECTS. 

Warmed  and  ventilated  by  the  Ruttan-Smead  Apparatus. 


NORTH COTT  & STINK.  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


!>!) 


RESIDENCE  OF  M.  W.  DUNHAM,  WAYNE,  DU  PAGE  CO.,  ILL. 

(IMPORTER  AND  BREEDER  OF  PERCEtERON  HORSES.) 

The  building  represented  above  is  warmed  and  ventilated  with  the  Rattan  Apparatus. 


100 


XORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  DUNKIRK,  OHIO 

Warmed  and  ventilated  with  Ruttan-Smead  Apparatus. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


Ruitan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago.  111. : Galveston,  Texas,  February  19, 1885. 

Gentleman, — * * * Our  heating  apparatus  has  turned  out  better  than  Mr.  Fisher  or  I ever  hoped.  My  standing 

invitation  to  the  city  is:  “Pick  out  the  coldest,  most  disagreeable  day  that  comes  along  and  come  to  the  Ball  High  School  and  see 
how  much  more  comfortable  your  children  are  than  they  could  be  at  home.”  H.  Lee  Sellers,  Principal  of  High  School. 


102 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  HAVERHILL,  MASS. 

After  our  apparatus  had  been  in  use  in  above  building  one  winter,  the  Haverhill  Board  of 
Education  contracted  with  us  to  furnish  apparatus  for  three  School  Buildings,  and  we  also  contracted 
with  Trustees  of  Unitarian  Church,  Haverhill,  to  furnish  apparatus  for  three  large  buildings. 


This  work  has  been  so  satisfactory  that  the  city  of  Haverhill  has  since  awarded  us  three  large  school 
buildings.  Other  large  work  has  been  given  us  there,  all  giving  most  perfect  satisfaction  and  to  which  we 

re^er'  Haverhill,  Mass.,  March  2, 1883. 

* * * * ’We  have  run  your  furnaces  all  winter,  and  they  have  done  splendidly.  We  kept  the  church 

warm  while  plastering,  and  mercury  10°  below  zero.  _ . . 

1 0.  L.  Gildings,  Contractor. 

See  also  a letter  from  Haverhill  regarding  this  work  on  page  110. 


E.  A.  Kimball,  Chairman  Building  Committee. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y 


101 


ONE  OF  THE  COLLEGE  BUILDINGS,  OBERLIN,  OHIO. 

(recitation  hall.) 

WEARY  & KRAMER,  ARCHITECTS,  AKRON,  OHIO. 

The  above  buildiny  is  warmed  and  ventilated  by  the  Ruttan-Smead  System.  The  Isaac  D.  Smead 

System  of  Dry -Closets  are  also  introduced. 


XORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


105 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  AURORA,  ILLINOIS. 

From  the  Aurora  (111.)  Beacon. 

The  ventilation  and  warming  of  many  hundreds  of  the  finest  and  most  expensive  buildings  in  the  United 
States  have  been  designed  and  very  successfully  carried  out  by  them  (Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.)  in  a great 
many  cases  where  steam  and  other  systems  of  heating  and  ventilation  had  been  tried  and  had  utterly  failed. 
A full  description  of  their  system  and  apparatus,  as  given  in  their  large  Illustrated  Book,  would  be  found  use- 
ful and  instructive  to  every  Board  of  Education.  The  work  done  by  them  in  our  West  Side  school  building 
is  certainly  the  finest  we  have  ever  seen.  The  building  is  practically  provided  with  lungs.  The  Company  is 
composed  of  men  having  a thorough  scientific  and  practical  knowledge  of  their  business.  We  congratulate 
the  Board  of  Education  and  the  city  upon  this  part  of  the  work  in  the  new  building.  From  what  we  have 
seen,  we  would  certainly  recommend  those  wanting  to  secure  for  their  buildings  the  very  best  warming  and 
ventilation,  that  they  see  the  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.  before  completing  plans  or  ordering  work  done. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y 


K)(5 


high  school  BUILDING,  DEFIANCE,  OHIO. 


In  addition  to  above  building,  in  which  our  system  has  been  used  five  years,  we  have  also 
furnished  in  Defiance  apparatus  for  a Ward  School  Building,  Masonic  Hall,  German  Lutheran  Church, 
City  Hall,  Defiance  Academy,  County  Infirmary,  and  residence  of  Dr.  E.  N.  Lewis  and  Benj.  L.  Abell, 
cashier  Merchants’  National  Bank. 


Defiance,  Ohio,  March  9,  1882. 

Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co.,  Toledo,  Ohio : 

Gentlemen, — I report  the  following  in  reference  to  our  school,  viz. : The  large  twelve-room  building  is  heated 
bv  warm  air  from  the  Ruttan  Air  Warmers.  The  cost  of  fuel  per  annum  is  about  40  cents  per  pupil,  and  the 
cost  of  janitor  is  about  50  cents  per  pupil,  all  told,  and  coal  costs  more  per  ton  in  Defiance  than  in  either  loledo  or 
Cleveland..  At  a meeting  of  the  School  Board  of  our  town,  the  Board  authorized  me  to  state  that  we  think 
and  know  we  have  the  best  heating  and  ventilating  system  we  ever  saw,  and  highly  recommend  it  to  all  parties 
wishing  a good  heating  and  ventilating  apparatus.  T „ . 

By  order  of  Board  of  Education.  J-  H.  Bevington,  Secretary. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


JOT 


STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  RIVER  FALLS,  WISCONSIN. 

(near  ST.  PAUL,  MINN). 

The  following  correspondence  will  explain  why  we  have  introduced  the  cut  of  Normal  University,  located 
at  River  Falls,  Wis. : 

Office  First  National  Bank, 

Oshkosh,  Wis.,  April  29,  1S79. 

Isaac  D.  Smead,  President  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago : 

Dear  Sir, — The  heating  and  ventilation  of  the  normal  building  at  River  Falls  is  a complete  failure.  The 
Board,  at  its  last  meeting,  instructed  the  Executive  Committee  to  take  such  action  as  they  thought  best  to 
have  the  defects  remedied.  Can’t  you  go  up  there  and  look  the  thing  over,  and  submit  a plan,  with  price, 
for  good  work  ? I may  go  there  within  a few  weeks,  and  would  like  to  meet  you  at  same  time. 

Yours  truly,  S.  M.  Hay,  Regent. 

State  Normal  School,  River  Falls,  Wis.,  April  2,  1880. 
Isaac  D.  Smead,  Esq.,  President  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  68  Lake  Street,  Chicago,  111. : 

Dear  Sir, — In  response  to  your  inquiry  we  have  to  say  that,  contrary  to  our  preconceived  notions,  the 
results  of  your  effort  to  warm  and  ventilate  the  normal  school  building,  at  this  place,  have  verified  your  guar- 
antees. The  air  is  changed  throughout  the  house  three  times  per  hour  when  the  seven  furnaces  are  fired. 
The  air  within  is  maintained  at  a temperature  of  70°  when  the  air  without  is  at  a maximum  of  30°  below 
zero.  The  air  is  supplied  in  a normal  condition  for  respiration,  and  is  distributed  without  appreciable 
currents  in  the  inhabited  rooms. 

We  can  say  that  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  have  warmed  and  distributed  25,000  cubic  feet  of  pure  air  per 
minute,  without  imparting  to  it  any  of  the  products  of  combustion  that  vitiate  it  for  purposes  of  respiration, 
and  without  depriving  it  of  any  of  its  vitalizing  properties,  and  these  superlatively  excellent  consequences 
resulted  from  the  consumption  of  only  four-fifths  of  as  much  fuel  as  other  furnaces  required  to  yield  results 
that  were  inferior  in  every  respect. 

We  take  pleasure,  therefore,  in  commending  your  work  to  the  consideration  of  any  parties  who  are 
seeking  for  first-class  results  in  warming  and  ventilating. 

A.  I>.  Andrew,  Resident  Regent. 

W.  D.  Parker,  President  of  School. 


108 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ILMIRA,  N.  Y. 


HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  CANTON,  OHIO. 

WEARY  * KRAMER,  ARCHITECTS,  AKRON',  OHIO. 

(For  report  of  committee  on  warming  and  ventilation,  see  page  26.) 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


J<)!> 


TESTIMONIALS. 


IN  presenting  these  testimonials,  we  are  aware  of  the  prejudice  existing  in  the  public  mind 
asxainst  documents  of  this  class,  and  therefore  ben-  leave  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
many  of  these  were  not  written  to  us,  or  by  any  solicitation  on  our  part,  but  in  reply  to  letters  of 
inquiry  from  third  parties,  who  either  contemplated  the  erection  of  new  buildings  or  the  intro- 
duction of  heating  apparatus  and  some  system  of  ventilation  into  old  ones.  As  they  are  written 
to  parties  who  were  anxious  to  know  the  whole  truth , and  by  parties  who  in  most  instances  had, 
previous  to  the  introduction  of  our  work,  used  other  furnaces  and  systems  (?)  of  ventilation  in  the 
same  buildings,  into  which  ours  were  afterward  introduced,  we  feel  that  their  testimony  should 
be  considered  as  unimpeachable,  as  it  is  based  upon  experience,  and  made  by  parties  who  are  wholly 
disinterested  as  far  as  their  relations  to  ns  are  concerned.  Others  are  reports  of  committees  or 
officials  made  to  higher  authority  upon  the  subject  of  heating  and  ventilation,  after  a thorough 
test  of  our  work. 

Through  courtesy  to  our  competitors,  we  suppress  the  names  of  the  furnaces  or  steam  appara- 
tus used  previous  to  the  introduction  of  ours. 

We  ask  a fair,  impartial  perusal  of  the  letters,  and  should  further  information  be  desired, 
we  will  take  pleasure  in  furnishing  it  upon  application. 


Office  of  Board  of  Education,  Decatur,  111.,  December  8,  1884. 

To  Whom  it  May  Concern  : 

In  the  fall  of  1S67,  we  first  purchased  Furnaces  of  the  predecessors  of  the  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. Since  that  time  there  has  not  been  a year  that  we  have  not  bought  more  or  less  of  the  Company. 

I take  pleasure  in  saying  that  we  have  always  received  fair  and  honorable  treatment.  The  managers 
of  the  Company  have  always  endeavored  to  carry  out  every  contract  according  to  the  spirit,  as  well  as  the 
letter.  I very  cheerfully  recommend  them  to  my  friends,  as  gentlemen  who  can  be  relied  upon  to  do  exactly 
as  they  agree  in  every  instance.  E.  A.  Gastman,  Superintendent  of  Schools. 


State  Normal  School,  Mankato,  Minn.,  November  26,  1884. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111.: 

Gentlemen , — You  wish  to  know  how  we  like  the  Heating  and  V entilating  apparatus  you  put  into  our  build- 
ing a year  ago  last  summer 

It  was  thoroughly  tested  during  the  long,  cold  winter  of  1883-4,  and  found  entirely  satisfactory  in  its  heat- 
ing power,  and,  under  fair  conditions,  equally  so  in  the  matter  of  ventilation.  All  rooms  not  overcrowded 
with  students  have  been  well  ventilated  in  cold  weather,  with  the  doors  and  windows  closed.  No  means  of 
ventilation  can  render  the  air,  as  it  ought  to  be  every  three  or  five  minutes,  in  some  of  the  rooms  contain- 
ing classes  two  or  three  times  larger  than  they  should  be,  save  powerful  steam  fans  or  a northern  blizzard 
blowing  through  open  windows. 

I think  your  claim  that  the  air  is  changed  in  a room  every  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  is  justified  by  our 
experience. 

Your  system  of  ventilation  (exhaust)  is  the  true  one,  and  your  Furnaces  are  large,  durable  and  easily 
managed.  Upon  the  whole,  our  experience  with  them  is  but  a repetition  of  the  satisfactory  experience  of  the 
four  normal  schools  of  Wisconsin,  familiar  to  me  a few  years  ago. 

Very  truly  yours,  Edward  Searing,  President. 


Merchants  National  Bank,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  January  2,  1S85. 
Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111.: 

Gentlemen , — In  reply  to  yours  of  31st  ult.,  we  have  three  large  school  buildings  heated  and  ventilated  by 
your  system,  and  I am  pleased  to  say  that  both  the  heating  and  the  ventilating  are  a grand  success.  Should 
our  city  build  another  school  building  the  coming  year,  your  admirable  system  will  undoubtedly  be  adopted. 
The  writer  has  been  a member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  this  city  for  the  past  ten  years,  and  during  that 


110 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  A'. 


time  many  methods  of  heating  have  been  tried,  and  I can  truthfully  say  none  have  given  the  satisfaction  that 
your  system  has.  Ventilation  is  an  important  feature  in  your  system.  There  is  no  system  for  both  heating 
and  ventilating  known  to  me  that  will  compare  with  yours. 

I am  yours,  etc.,  M.  A.  Higley. 

May,  1885.  We  have  since  been  awarded  the  building  mentioned  in  Mr.  Higley’s  letter. 

Hastings,  Neb.,  March  6,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — Yours  of  recent  date  received,  and  should  have  been  answered  sooner  but  for  crowding  work- 

In  reply,  I am  very  happy  to  say  that  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  you  put  in  the  high  school  have  given  us 
the  greatest  satisfaction.  During  December,  January  and  February  just  closed,  we  had  some  unusually  severe 
weather,  very  cold  indeed,  with  terrible  winds  from  north  and  west.  But  after  the  janitor  got  to  understand 
the  proper  adjustment  of  the  fires,  there  has  been  no  day  when  the  building  has  not  been  entirely  comfort- 
able, all  the  four  lower  rooms  being  never  less  than  70°,  and  many  times  82°  and  84° ; while;  on  Mon- 
day mornings,  we  have  sometimes  let  the  thermometers  run  up  to  90°  odd,  for  a time,  until  the  rooms  were 
thoroughly  heated  after  standing  over  Saturday  and  Sunday  without  fire.  The  upper  rooms,  including  the 
large  high  school  room  and  its  adjoining  recitation  room,  my  own  office,  and  the  halls  of  both  the  floors  have 
been  perfectly  warm,  pleasant  and  comfortable  for  pupils  and  teachers.  The  ventilation  has  been  perfect. 
No  gas,  no  bad  odors,  no  headache,  have  troubled  us,  for  the  constant  changing  of  the  air  in  from  20  to  25 
minutes  has  kept  it  pure  and  wholesome. 

I am  greatly  pleased,  and  am  satisfied  the  Ruttan  will  warm  and  ventilate  any  building  if  properly  put 
in  and  tended.  Very  truly  yours, 

F.  W.  Parsons,  Superintendent. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111.:  Aledo,  111.,  November  19, 1884. 

Gentlemen, — In  reply  to  your  request,  asking  information  as  to  how  I like  my  Furnace,  I will  say  I am 
well  pleased  with  it.  I consider  it  the  most  economical  method  of  heating  I have  ever  tried,  and  it  certainly 
is  the  most  satisfactory.  The  Furnace  was  put  in  in  the  fall  of  1878,  and  has  been  in  use  every  winter  since, 
and  my  total  outlay  for  repairs  has  been  only  $1.75,  and  the  Furnace  looks,  to  me,  as  though  it  was  practically 
as  good  as  new.  The  fuel  account  is  materially  less  than  it  would  be  to  heat  the  same  rooms  with  stoves. 

Very  truly  yours,  etc.,  J.  W.  Edwards. 

G.  L.  Cole,  Esq.:  St.  JosErn,  Mo.,  March  1,  1884. 

Dear  Sir, — In  answer  to  your  favor  of  the  24th,  will  say  that  we  have  only  one  of  our  school  buildings 
(seven  rooms)  warmed  by  steam,  in  use  now  a little  more  than  a year,  and  one  (a  six-room  building)  warmed 
by  the  Ruttan  System  in  use  since  January  1,  1884.  In  the  former  (or  the  one  warmed  by  steam)  we 
are  able  to  obtain  scarcely  any  ventilation,  the  atmosphere  at  times  in  the  various  rooms  being  very  unpleas- 
ant. The  heat  in  the  said  building  we  find  insufficient  for  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the  pupils  in  extremely 
cold  weather.  In  the  building  warmed  by  the  Ruttan  System  we  have  apparently  perfect  ventilation,  and 
can  maintain  any  degree  of  temperature  in  each  and  every  room  (up  to  100°  if  desirable)  during  the 
severest  weather,  the  temperature  of  each  room  being  directly  under  the  control  of  the  teacher  in  that  room 
without  interfering  with  the  temperature  of  either  of  the  other  rooms.  There  are  other  minor  points  in  my 
opinion  that  give  the  Ruttan  System  superior  advantages  over  steam.  Therefore  experience  and  observation 
compel  me  to  be  very  pronounced  in  favor  of  the  Ruttan  System  over  steam  for  heating  and  ventilating 
school  buildings.  Yours  truly,  F.G.  Hopkins,  Chairman  Building  Committee. 

Having  carefully  read  the  above  letter,  we  heartily  recommend  every  word  of  it. 

Chas.  G.  Ernest,  Chairman  Supply  Committee. 

John  M.  Armstrong,  Chairman  Finance  Committee. 

W.C.  Dodge:  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll  Co.,  February  17, 1882. 

Sir, — Your  favor  asking  about  expenses  of  repairs  is  at  hand,  and  am  happy  to  be  able  to  say  we  have 
never  had  occasion  to  call  on  the  Ruttan  Company  to  do  any  repairing  for  us  in  all  the  time  we  have  used  their  furnaces, 
put  in  in  1876.  We  have  had  some  sections  of  grates  to  replace.  If  I could  have  seen  to  the  furnace  fires 
myself,  or  always  been  certain  of  a trusty  fireman,  no  repairs  at  all  would  have  been  needed.  All  that  ever 
has  been  done  might  have  been  avoided  with  reasonable  care  and  exercise  of  ordinary  common  sense.  We 
all  know  the  ashes  should  be  kept  from  under  the  grate  to  admit  a current  of  air;  otherwise  the  grate  will 
soon  burn  out.  This  is  just  what  happened  with  ours.  We  use  anthracite  coal  mainly  (some  w'ood),  and  the 
heat  is,  of  course,  very  intense  at  times,  and  through  the  carelessness  of  the  boys  who  tended  the  fires  (proba- 
bly too  indolent  to  take  up  the  ashes  when  they  ought),  the  grates  became  so  heated  as  to  warp. and  then 
break.  There  is,  however,  no  trouble  in  replacing  them,  as  they  are  in  sections  just  laid  loosely  in  sockets 
made  for  them,  and  any  person  can  replace  them.  So  lar  there  is  no  appearance  of  anything  else  giving  out 
in  our  furnaces.  The  average  cost  per  year  since  we  have  used  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  will  not  exceed  four  dollars 
for  the  repairs  named.  These  furnaces  are  designed  for  soft  coal  or  wrood,  although  we  burn  hard  coal,  as  it 
costs  less  here. 

With  best  wishes  for  success  in  the  introduction  of  the  furnaces,  and  fully  believing  you  cannot  do  better 
with  any  heating  apparatus  than  the  Ruttan,  I am,  sincerely,  F.  A.  W.  Shinier. 

C.  B.  Tompkins,  Supt.  Education,  Elmira.  N.  Y.:  Haverhill,  Mass.,  March  8,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — I beg  your  pardon  for  delay  in  responding  to  your  letter  of  inquiry  in  regard  to  the  Iiuttan- 
Smead  Ventilating  and  Heating  Furnace.  At  the  time  your  letter  came  I w’as  confined  to  my  house  and 
therefore  unable  to  get  the  report  of  facts,  etc.,  from  the  Prudential  Committee.  The  kind  of  fuel  we  use  is 
the  Piction  coal  (bituminous),  and  use  pine  wood  in  starting  a quick  fire.  We  start  the  fire  in  three  furnaces  at 
7 o'clock  on  Sabbath  morning,  when  the  weather  is  cold,  and  at  10  o'clock,  the  time  of  service,  our  church  and  chapel 
are  easily  heated  to  65°.  The  cost  of  coal  to  us  here  is  $4.50  per  ton,  and  it  will  take  from  one  to  one  and 
one-half  tons  per  day.  The  main  auditorium  will  seat  1,000,  and  the  chapel  seats  from  500  to  700.  One  of 


NORTIJCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


Ill 


the  grand  points  attained  with  this  furnace  is,  that  every  part  of  the  house  is  at  a uniform  temperature. 
The  feet  are  just  the  same  degree  of  heat  as  the  head  or  the  air  at  the  floor  the  same  as  at  the  ceiling,  and  the 
ventilation  is  perfect,  pure,  fresh  air  all  day,  and  you  cannot  if  you  would  breathe  the  same  air  hut  once — the 
stale  air  going  out  doors  and  the  fresh  air  coming  in  to  take  its  place.  I think,  and  so  do  the  Prudential 
Committee,  that  the  new  method  is  a saving  of  very  nearly  one-half  the  expense  in  producingthe  same  amount 
of  heat.  But  our  fires  have  been  so  irregular  this  season,  for  all  purposes,  it  is  quite  difficult  to  get  at  the  true 
cost  of  heating  in  average  years.  Allow  me  to  say  that  our  Building  Committee,  as  well  as  Prudential  Com- 
mittee of  our  church,  are  more  than  satisfied  with  the  Ruttan-Smead  Ventilating  Furnace,  and  that  the 
claims  of  the  proprietors  have  been  fully  sustained,  and  for  heating  churches  and  public  buildings  it  bas  no 
competitors.  I am  with  great  respect,  very  truly  yours, 

Ckas.  B.  Emerson,  Building  Committee. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Company,  Chicago,  111.:  Saybrook,  111. 

Gentlemen, — Accept  our  thanks  for  the  good  thing  in  heating  and  ventilating  you  have  done  for  our 
church.  The  furnace,  a No.  6,  which  you  placed  in  our  church  last  December,  is  a success  in  every  way.  It 
is  economical  in  price  and  fuel — is  a powerful  and  quick  heater,  and  is  easily  managed.  It  is  free  from  dust, 
smoke  and  coal  odors.  The  draft,  ventilation  and  heating  are  all  complete.  The  pure  air  and  uniformity  of 
temperature,  and  freedom  from  cold  currents  through  the  whole  building,  make  the  heating  and  ventilation 
most  satisfactory  and  praiseworthy.  Should  you  desire  any  references,  I would  refer  you  to  everybody  here ; 
we  are  all  pleased.  The  amount  of  coal  used  is  a marvel  of  economy.  I regard  the  ventilation  (as  well  as 
heating)  a monument  of  Christian  civilization,  as  well  as  common  sense. 

Yours  truly,  John  A.  Kumler,  Pastor  M.  E.  Church. 


Minneapolis,  Minn.,  June  1,  1885. 

Otis  Jones,  Esq.,  President  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111.: 

Dear  Sir, — In  answer  to  your  letter  of  inquiry  as  to  how  I am  pleased  with  your  Warming  and 
Ventilating  system,  I take  pleasure  in  saying  that  I believe  it  to  be  the  most  perfect  and  complete  system  of 
heating  and  ventilating  I know  of.  My  house  is  large,  some  sixty  by  eighty-five  feet,  three  stories,  with 
basement  under  all.  Although  the  past  winter  was  exceedingly  cold,  I found  no  trouble  in  keeping  all  the 
rooms  comfortable  and  warm.  I also  consider  it  much  more  healthful  than  any  other  system,  owing  to  the 
warm  air  being  so  evenly  distributed  over  the  wlioie  house  and  the  foul  air  being  continually  carried  off,  fresh 
air  without  taking  its  place,  making  a continuous  fresh  air  circulation  throughout  the  house.  I also  believe 
it  to  be  the  most  economical.  Yours  truly,  John  Edwards. 


Milton  College,  Milton,  Wis.,  April  20,  1885. 

Mr.  Otis  Jones,  President  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111. : 

Dear  Sir, — During  the  past  fall  and  winter  terms,  the  building  of  this  institution,  in  which  are  conducted 
the  recitations  of  our  classes,  has  been  heated  with  two  of  your  Furnaces,  No.  7-  For  some  time  previous,  all 
the  rooms,  seven  in  number,  have  been  supplied  with  wood  stoves.  This  change  in  the  method  of  heating 
has  contributed  very  greatly  to  the  comfort  of  both  the  faculty  and  the  students.  During  the  past  unusually 
severe  winter,  we  have  experienced  no  difficulty  in  maintaining  the  temperature  of  about  70  degrees  Fahren- 
heit in  all  portions  of  this  building,  though  it  is  located  on  a rise  of  ground  exposed  to  the  sweeping  winds 
of  this  region.  Rooms  which  we  have  not  been  able  to  warm  hitherto  sufficiently  in  the  coldest  days,  espec- 
ially on  the  western  side,  have  given  us  no  trouble  the  past  winter. 

With  your  furnaces  we  use,  also,  the  Ruttan  system  of  ventilation.  We  cannot  praise  too  highly  the 
results  of  this  system.  It  has  aided  materially  in  securing  the  uniform  warmth  of  the  building.  The  rooms, 
after  being  occupied  with  our  classes  during  the  day,  have  shown  that  they  were  filled  with  pure  air  when  the 
last  recitations  have  closed.  The  health  of  all,  both  teachers  and  students,  has  never  been  better  in  the 
winter  than  during  the  past  term.  Although  one  hundred  and  seventy  persons  have  performed  their  school 
work  during  the  day  in  these  rooms,  only  one  of  this  number  has  been  seriously  ill,  and  he  caught  a severe 
cold  while  stopping  at  a house  for  a short  time,  attending  to  some  business  on  the  farm.  Steady  and  vigorous 
study  and  uniform  attendance  upon  the  recitations  have  characterized  all  the  classes. 

Yours  very  truly,  *W.  C.  AVhitford,  President  of  Milton  College. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111. : Ottawa,  111. 

Gentlemen, — I have  used  your  system  of  ventilation  and  warming  for  a little  more  than  eight  years.  I 
am  ready  to  say  that  it  is  a complete  and  thorough  success.  My  house  is  a brick  house.  During  all  the  rains 
and  damp  weather  it  is  so  dry  that  not  a particle  of  mold  or  moisture  is  seen  from  cellar  to  attic,  and  yet  the 
circulation  of  air  was  such  that,  during  the  summer  heat,  my  house  is  cool ; and  both  winter  and  summer  the 
air  all  over  the  house  was  as  pure  as  that  out  of  doors.  I kept  from  two  to  five  rooms  warmed  nicely,  with 
about  the  same  amount  of  coal  that  five  stoves  would  use,  but  I get  rid  of  all  the  dirt  and  dust,  and  the  trouble 
of  taking  care  of  so  many  stoves,  and  the  heat  I get  is  a summer  heat  instead  of  a burned  air.  When  we  get 
up  in  the  morning  there  is  no  lassitude,  no  oppression  of  the  lungs ; the  bedroom  air  is  pure,  and  yet  the 
floors  are  comfortable  to  the  bare  feet.  In  fact,  I would  not  live  in  a house  that  was  not  built  with  your  sys- 
tem of  ventilation  and  warming.  I would  even  build  a house  of  only  two  rooms  with  it,  rather  than  one  of 
six  rooms  without  it.  Yours  respectfully,  E.  Y.  Griggs. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Kumler,  Pastor  31.  E.  Church,  at  Bloomington,  111.,  recently  wrote  to  Rev.  H.  C.  Adams,  pastor 
M.  E.  Church  at  Payson,  111.,  making  inquiries  regarding  the  new  church  building  just  completed  at  Payson, 
and  the  following  is  quoted  from  Air.  Adams’  reply  : 

“The  heating  and  ventilating  is  perfect,  there  being  only  two  or  three  degrees  difference  in  the  tempera- 
ture three  feet  from  the  register  and  at  platform.  My  babe  sleeps  on  platform  during  service,  and  never  takes 


Formerly  State  Superintendent  Public  Instruction. 


112 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


cold.  People  come  in  with  cold  feet,  take  their  seats,  and  soon  are  comfortable.  If  the  room  gets  a little  too 
warm,  there  is  none  of  that  hot,  feverish  feeling,  that  is  the  curse  of  so  many  churches  not  properly  venti- 
lated and  heated.  We  had  an  accidental  test  of  the  ventilation  a few  days  ago.  I accidentally  dropped  a 
pine  stick  on  the  furnace,  and,  of  course,  the  room  was  soon  filled  with  smoke,  but  without  opening  a 
window  or  door,  the  smoke  entirely  disappeared  in  a very  short  time.  There  is  very  little  coughing  in  the 
congregation,  and  I attribute  it  to  the  purity  of  the  air.  Furnace  is  all  right.  I would  never  let  a church  be 
heated  in  any  other  way  if  I could  help  it.  On  the  coldest  Sabbath  I built  a fire  at  7:30,  and  at  9:30  was 

ready  for  Sunday-school,  with  mercury  at  70°.  The  Congregational  Church,  heated  with  a furnace, 

fired  up  at  4 a.m.,  and  at  11  a.m.  was  not  comfortable.” 


Reed’s  Temple  of  Music,  136  State  street,  near  Madison,  Chicago. 

Geo.  D.  Claflix,  Secretary  Blade  Printing  Co.,  Toledo,  0. : 

Dear  Sir, — We  cannot  commend  the  Ruttan  Furnace  too  highly.  It  has  proved  all  and  more  than  rep- 
resented, and  pleases  far  better  than  anything  else  we  have  ever  tried  and  we  have  tried  several  kinds, 
including  expensive  steam  apparatus.  We  find  no  trouble  in  heating  our  entire  building,  even  with  the  ther- 
mometer at  15°  to  20°  below  zero,  at  far  less  expense  to  us  than  by  any  other  system  of  heating.  It  is  deci- 
dedly A No.  1,  and  we  would  not  be  without  it. 

Respectfully,  A.  Reed  & Sons. 

This  building  is  25x100  feet,  and  four  stories  high. 

From  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Education. 

Four  new  buildings  were  in  process  of  construction  at  the  beginning  of  the  school  year.  These  were 
the  new  Walsh,  Longfellow,  Sangamon  Street  and  Lawndale.  All  of  the  above  named  buildings  are  heated 
and  ventilated  by  the  Ruttan  furnaces.  Five  new  buildings  have  been  commenced  during  the  year,  namely, 
Keith,  Webster,  Irving,  Ogden  and  the  New  Wells:  The  Ogden  school  building  will  have  eighteen  rooms, 
the  otherfour  fifteen  roomseach.  All  of  the  above  named  school  buildings  will  be  heated  and  ventilated  by 
the  Ruttan  furnaces.  ******  The  Ruttan  System  of  heating  for  school  buildings  is 
very  successful  and  makes  good  ventilation  an  unavoidable  occurrence.  Hence  these  school  houses  will  be 
much  better  heated  and  ventilated  than  any  of  our  old  buildings  heated  with  furnaces  of  other  patterns. 

The  poor  ventilation  in  many  of  the  older  buildings  has  become  notorious.  The  necessity  of  improving 
it  has  engaged  the  serious  attention  of  the  Board,  from  time  to  time,  and  particularly  during  the  past  two 
years.  The  Ruttan  heating  apparatus,  which  was  put  into  the  Calumet  Avenue  school  during  the  previous 
year,  had  so  fully  demonstrated  its  capacity  to  make  good  ventilation  that  the  Board  in  July  and  August,  1882, 
ordered  it  to  be  introduced  into  the  Kinzie,  Lincoln  Street,  and  old  Walsh  buildings.  During  the  past  severe 
winter  these  schools  have  been  heated  and  ventilated  in  a satisfactory  manner.  The  ventilation  has  been 
very  noticeably  improved.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  in  these  buildings  the  volume  of  fresh,  warm  air  introduced 
into  the  school  rooms,  and  of  foul  air  passing  out,  is  twice  as  great  as  it  was  before  the  change  was  made. 

Acting  upon  the  experience  of  two  winters,  the  Board,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  has  wisely  ordered  that  the 
furnaces  and  diminutive  flues  of  six  other  buildings  shall  be  replaced  by  the  Ruttan  and  the  enlarged  flues 
required  for  better  ventilation.  The  buildings  are  the  Burr,  Vender  Street,  Pearson  Street,  Polk  Street,  West 
Fourteenth  Street,  and  the  Old  Cottage  Grove.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  next  year  may  witness  the  extension  of 
this  kind  of  improvement  to  many  or  all  of  the  remaining  old  buildings  heated  by  furnaces,  whose  ventilation 
is  faulty.  * * * * * * Some  of  the  steam-heated  buildings  have  ventilation  even  worse 

than  any  heated  by  furnaces. 


OAKLAND  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  CHICAGO. 

Chicago,  111..  June  8,  1885. 

Gentlemen, — You  ask  my  opinion  regarding  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  now  in  the  Oakland  School  building. 
This  building  was  erected  in  1874  and  was  supplied  by  furnaces  of  another  make  which  did  not  give  us  the 
desired  amount  of  heat  and  almost  no  ventilation.  After  using  them  for  two  years  they  were  taken  out  and 
replaced  by  two  No.  7 furnaces  made  by  the  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.  Our  school  building  was  an  eight- 
room,  two-story  building.  We  continued  to  use  the  two  furnaces  with  the  best  of  satisfaction  until  the  sum- 
mer of  18S0  when,  our  school  accommodations  being  inadequate,  we  put  on  a third  story  making  a twelve-room 
building  of  what  was  heretofore  an  eight-room  building.  By  the  advice  of  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  when 
we  enlarged  our  building,  we  had  the  two  furnaces  replaced  by  four  of  their  No.  7’s  and  they  have  been  in 
continuous  use  ever  since,  and  I give  it  as  my  deliberate  opinion  that  we  now  have  the  best  warmed  and  ventilated 
school  building  in  Cook  County.  We  are  able  at  all  times  to  thoroughly  warm  our  school  rooms  during  the 
coldest  weather,  and  the  temperature  has  been  as  low  as  thirty-five  degrees  below  zero.  No  teacher  or  pupil 
has  ever  complained  of  rooms  being  too  cold,  and  the  ventilation  is  all  that  could  be  desired. 

One  year  ago  we  erected  a new  twelve-room  school  building,  and  our  committee  (influenced  by  the  arch- 
itect) concluded  to  put  in  steam  heating  as  an  experiment.  The  new  school  building  has  only  six  rooms 
finished  and  we  have  used  as  many  tons  of  hard  coal  to  warm  the  six  rooms  for  the  new  building  as  we  have  tons  of 
soft  coal  to  warm  the  twelve  school  rooms  with  the  Ruttan  Furnaces,  and  I consider  the  ventilation  in  the  old  build- 
ing where  the  furnaces  are  placed  much  better  than  in  the  new  building  where  steam  heating  is  used.  I can 
truthfully  say  that  for  warming  and  ventilating  school  buildings  the  Ruttan  System  of  heating  and  ventilating  is 
far  superior  to  steam  heating  apparatus  or  any  other  with  which  I am  acquainted.  Were  we  to  erect  a new  school 
building  I should  prefer  this  work  with  all  their  latest  improvement  to  any  I know  of  in  this  country.  I have 
given  the  subject  of  heating  and  ventilating  school  buildings  very  careful  attention,  and  I can  truthfully  say 
that  I believe  it  to  be  the  best  system  of  any  now  in  use. 

Should  any  party  question  the  above  statements,  I have  only  to  say,  visit  our  two  school  buildings  during 
the  coldest  weather  of  next  winter  and  you  will  not  remain  in  doubt.  Hoping  this  will  be  satisfactory,  I am. 
Yours  very  respectfully,  John  R.  Hodsox, 

Chairman  Committee  on  Buildings  and  Grounds. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


113 


Madison,  Wis.,  November  25,  1884. 

S.  D.  Fisher,  Esq.,  Sup’t  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111. : 

Dear  Sir,-—  I have  your  favor  of  the  24th,  soliciting  my  statement  in  respect  to  the  Ruttan  system  of  heat- 
ing and  ventilating. 

You  inquire,  of  course,  more  particularly  with  respect  to  the  working  of  the  Ruttan  system  in  the  main 
hall  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  with  which  as  a regent  and  member  of  the  executive  committee  I had 
considerable  to  do.  I am  able  to  state  that  the  heating  system  works  satisfactorily,  and  the  ventilating  is 
highly  esteemed. 

It  requires  for  its  most  perfect  working,  as  it  seem  to  me,  easy  burning  fires  without  pressing  demand  upon 
them,  then  the  heat  and  ventilation  must  be  both  very  agreeably  provided.  I take  especial  pleasure  in  com- 
mending the  Ruttan  Company,  and  yourself  its  Superintendent,  to  the  confidence  of  any  person  with  whom 
you  may  deal,  because  I found  you  in  vour  transactions  with  us,  zealous  to  do  your  work  faithfully,  and  hon- 
orable in  meeting  every  requirement  in  respect  to  it.  Very  truly  yours,  *Wm.  F.  Vilas. 

*Now  Postmaster  General  United  States. 


Office  of  President  of  Board  of  Regents  of  Normal  Schools, 
Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111. : Platteville,  Wis.,  March  6,  1885. 

Gentlemen, — I have  always  had  serious  objections  to  write  commendations  of  devices  offered  for  sale  to 
the  public.  But  I feel  that  I might  be  omitting  a duty  to  the  public,  and  more  especially  to  those  seeking  the 
best  method  of  heating  and  ventilating  school  buildings,  should  I withhold  the  results  of  my  observation  and 
experience  in  warming  and  ventilating  the  four  normal  school  buildings  of  Wisconsin.  We  have  under  our 
supervision  four  large  school  buildings,  located  in  different  parts  of  the  state,  each  having  a cubic  capacity  of 
over  350,000  feet,  and  a total  enrollment  of  nearly  2,000  pupils. 

When  these  buildings  were  erected  they  were  equipped  with  hot-air  furnaces  or  steam  heating  of  differ- 
ent manufacture,  some  doing  reasonably  well  for  a time,  but  all  lacking  sufficient  power  when  the  atmosphere 
was  at  a low  temperature,  and  all  of  them  requiring  constant  repairs,  and  consequent  annoyance  and  expense. 
In  the  summer  of  1875  a new  wing  was  added  to  the  Oshkosh  building.  The  Board  of  Regents,  after  a full 
and  exhaustive  investigation  of  different  heating  and  ventilating  appliances,  concluded  to  adopt  the  Ruttan 
Furnaces  and  system  of  ventilation  in  this  wing,  with  a special  guarantee  on  the  part  of  the  Company  to  heat 
the  building  during  the  coldest  weather,  and  furnish  a constant  supply  of  pure  air. 

This  experiment  proving  entirely  satisfactory  and  fulfilling  all  guarantees,  the  Board  of  Regents  deter- 
mined to  adopt  this  system  of  heating  and  ventilation  for  all  the  schools  under  their  charge  ; this  work  has 
been  accomplished  at  considerable  expense,  but  the  results  gained  have  amply  repaid  all  expenditures.  The 
Ruttan  Furnaces  now  in  use  in  the  several  buildings  are  as  follows: 

Platteville Seven  F urnaces. 

Oshkosh Eight  Furnaces. 

River  Falls Seven  Furnaces. 

Whitewater Eight  F urnaces. 

We  find  the  advantages  gained  by  the  use  of  this  system  over  any  others  known  to  us  to  be  as  follows  : 

1st.  With  the  large  amount  of  radiating  surfaces,  and  weight  of  metal  which  these  furnaces  possess,  an 
ability  to  warm  these  large  buildings  during  the  coldest  days  of  a Wisconsin  winter. 

2d.  In  connection  with  the  admirable  system  of  ventilation  to  furnish  a constant  supply  of  pure  air  to 
each  room,  tests  have  been  repeatedly  made,  showing  an  entire  change  of  air  every  thirty  minutes. 

3d.  A noticeable  improvement  in  the  health  of  the  school  population  since  the  change  in  the  system  of 
ventilation. 

4th.  By  using  brick  hot-air  flues  instead  of  metal  pipes,  lessening  the  dangers  from  fires  so  often  result- 
ing from  heated  metal  pipes  coming  in  contact  with  woodwork. 

5th.  When  the  work  is  completed  and  ready  for  operation  the  expense,  except  for  fuel,  is  practically  at 
an  end.  We  have  no  expense  to  keep  the  furnaces  in  repair  since  placing  them  in  our  buildings. 

Very  truly  yours,  J.  Id.  Evans,  Pres’t  Board  of  Regents. 


Mr.  Otis  Jones,  President  Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.:  Oshkosh,  Wis.,  December  13,  1884. 

Dear  Sir, — The  Ruttan  Heating  and  Ventilating  Apparatus  has  been  in  use  in  this  school  since  1877.  In 
that  time  it  has  heated  the  building  thoroughly,  at  less  expense  than  ever  before,  while  the  efficiency  of 
ventilation  is  incomparably  better.  Had  we  the  latest  improvement  by  winch  the  air  of  a class-room  may 
be  promptly  cooled  without  cutting  off  the  free  flow  for  ventilation,  nothing  more  could  be  desired.  We 
attribute  the  superior  heating  power  of  the  Ruttan  Furnace  in  the  past,  to  a feature  you  maxe  no  claims  for 
in  your  circular,  viz. : the  perfect  accessibility  of  the  smoke  flues,  by  which  we  can  keep  the  flame  in  direct 
contact  with  the  iron,  instead  of  having  to  radiate  through  a thick  layer  of  soot,  a very  poor  conductor  of 
heat.  The  only  repairs  we  have  made  in  the  seven  years  is  the  cementing  of  the  joints  over  the  fire-bov. 

Yours  truly,  G.  S.  Albee,  President 


Mr.  Otis  Jones,  Chicago,  111.:  Whitewater,  Wis.,  December  1,  1884. 

Dear  Sir, — Mr.  Rodgers  was  here  Thanksgiving  day,  and  seems  to  have  done  the  work  thoroughly  and 
satisfactorily.  We  have  found  the  Ruttan  system  of  heating  and  ventilation  a great  improvement  over  any- 
thing we  have  previously  tried.  It  provides  abundant  ventilation,  and  thus  secures  a constant  supply  of  fresh 
and  properly  warmed  air,  which  is  the  only  proper  way  of  heating  public  buildings.  Both  the  heating  and 
ventilation  of  our  buildings  have  been  entirely  satisfactory  since  the  introduction  of  this  system. 

Very  truly  yours,  J.  W.  Stearns,  President. 


114 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.:  Whitewater,  Wis.,  November  24,  1884. 

Gentlemen, — Your  favor  of  the  11th  inst.,  inquiring  as  to  the  working  of  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  in  the 
Whitewater  Normal  School,  was  duly  received.  The  building  was  formerly  heated  by  steam.  While  this 
served  the  purpose  reasonably  well,  so  far  as  heat  was  concerned,  there  was  a lack  of  necessary  ventilation, 
so  much  so  that  the  health  of  the  teachers  and  pupils  demanded  a change.  After  thorough  investigation  the 
board  of  regents  selected  your  furnace,  and  gave  you  the  contract.  We  have  never  regretted  doing  so. 
Though  the  building  is  on  an  eminence,  and  exposed'  to  the  north  and  west  winds,  we  find  no  difficulty  in  heat- 
ing it  in  the  coldest  weather,  and  the  ventilation  is  complete.  As  regards  economy  and  durability  and  power,  your 
furnace  is  a success.  Yours  truly,  T.  D.  Weeks,  Resident  Regent. 


W.  C.  Dodge,  Esq. : River  Falls,  Wis.,  December  24, 1881. 

Dear  Sir, — Your  note  of  inquiry  of  the  16th  inst.  came  in  my  absence  and  I regret  the  delay  of  my  reply. 
In  many  years’  experience  with  schools  it  has  seemed  that  three  results  must  be  assured  in  the  matter  of 
airing  buildings;  first,  abundant  air;  second,  pure  air;  third,  air  free  from  deleterious  matter — all  guided  by 
such  economy  as  public  service  dictates. 

First  expense  and  constancy  of  repairs,  together  with  probable  interruptions,  of  nice  adjustment  of  fuel 
to  changing  temperature,  preclude  steam  and  hot  water.  Most  furnaces  impair  their  plate,  light  metal,  and 
render  the  air  (inadequate  in  amount)  totally  unfit  for  purposes  of  healthful  respiration. 

This  was  the  negative  state  of  mind  that  I occupied  at  the  time  I found  it  necessary  in  1879  to  discard 
$4,000  worth  of  apparatus,  then  in  use  only  four  years.  I issued  a circular  of  inquiry  that  year  to  hundreds 
of  schools  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Iowa  ; a second  circular,  more  spe- 
cific in  character,  brought  evidence  pointing  to  Ruttan  so  unmistakably  that  I determined  to  adopt  Ruttan 
warming  and  ventilating,  and  now  a fter  two  years’  use  I am  satisfied  with  the  change. 

The  secret  of  the  qualities  found  in  Ruttan  is  discovered  in  the  amount  of  metal  used  and  the  complete 
method  of  circulating  the  warmed  air.  In  these  respects  I may  say  the  Ruttan  Company  removed  3,500  pounds 
of  furnaces  and  introduced  35,000  pounds;  used  nine  windows,  each  3x5  feet  for  cold  air,  instead  of  two  such  used 
by  the  discarded  furnaces,  and  all  dimensions  were  similarly  enlarged  ; air  now  enters  the  room  at  100°  to 
150°,  formerly  200°  to  300°  Fahr. — the  air,  500,000  cubic  feet,  is  now  held  at  70°  top  and  bottom  of  rooms — with 
mercury  outside  doors  at  40°  above  or  40°  below,  the  air  is  exhausted  completely  every  twenty  to  thirty  minutes,  and 
is  entirely  free  from  deleterious  gases,  and  the  most  surprising  result  is  found  in  the  use  of  less  fuel  than  formerly 
—made  possible  by  holding  uniform  force,  and  in  utilizing  all  the  heat,  instead  of  allowing  its  escape  up 
chimney  and  into  basement. 

I consider  the  Ruttan  a perfect  system  of  warming  and  ventilating.  To  your  interrogatories: 

1.  I have  used  steam  and  object  to  it  on  account  of  its  first  cost  and  cost  of  maintaining  it,  together  with 
the  constant  fear  of  fitters  and  janitors,  of  accidents  from  frosts.  Have  used  direct  and  indirect  radiation — in 
this  latitude  we  don’t  dare  to  trust  to  indirect  alone. 

2.  Already  answered.  Ruttan  requires  only  ordinary  day-laborer  intelligence  in  attendance,  and  compar- 
atively nothing  for  repairs. 

3.  Ruttan  costs  here  from  one-half  to  two-thirds  of  cost  of  steam  apparatus  to  do  similar  work  ; is  more 
economical  in  every  respect  than  steam. 

4.  You  can’t  use  any  system  of  ventilation  that  does  not  assure  ample  exhaust,  and  I have  no  knowl- 
edge of  any  system  that  effects  all  the  desired  purposes  like  Ruttan. 

5.  No  difficulty  in  working  with  or  against  the  wind  in  our  “ blizzards  ” or  our  zephyrs. 

6.  No  evaporation  at  furnace  seems  to  be  needful;  temperature  of  air  being  comparatively  low,  and  no 
occasion  seems  to  call  for  saturation  up  to  dew  point  or  thereabout. 

Anything  I may  have  omitted,  I will  supply  on  application  with  pleasure. 

Trusting  your  efforts  will  effect  best  purposes,  I am,  respectfully, 

W.  D.  Parker,  President  State  Normal  School. 


State  Normal  School,  River  Falls,  Wis.,  April,  1885. 

Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago,  111.: 

Gentlemen, — Replying  to  your  inquiry  as  to  the  services  performed  by  Ruttan  Furnaces  and  ventilation 
applied  for  this  school,  I have  to  say : 

1.  The  seven  furnaces  have  been  subjected  to  specially  severe  tests  during  the  three  past  winters,  and 
have  been  used  during  seven  years.  The  expenditure  for  repairs  have  been  less  than  $30. 

2.  The  furnaces  have  afforded  an  abundance  of  moderately  warmed,  pure  air,  in  all  temperatures  out- 
side ranging  down  to  52°  below  zero,  as  indicated  by  self-registering  spirit  thermometer.  The  9th  day  of 
January,  1884,  afforded  the  severest  test  for  the  furnaces,  when  they  warmed  the  building  to  70°  Fahrenheit, 
in  the  midst  of  a gale  with  the  thermometer  sinking  from  18°  below  zero  to  40°  below. 

3.  I know  no  furnaces  that  afford  air  so  thoroughly  adapted  for  bathing  the  body  and  for  respiration,  as 
the  Ruttan.  They  leak  no  gas,  super-heat  no  air,  and  run  without  apparent  deterioration  under  the  min- 
imum of  attendance. 

4.  The  admirable  results  of  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  are  sure  to  gratify  customers  by  reason  of  their  large 
capacity,  their  delivery  of  heat  just  when  it  is  needed,  and  their  thorough  economy  in  all  respects. 

Respectfully  yours,  W.  D.  Parker,  President. 

*This  building  is  nearly  500  miles  northwest  from  Chicago. 

Extract  from  the  Thirtieth  (last)  Annual  Report  of  the  Board  of  Education,  Chicago,  issued  May,  1885: 

“ The  heating  and  ventilation  of  the  following  school  buildings  have  been  satisfactorily  perfected  during 
the  past  year  by  the  introduction  of  the  Ruttan  Furnace  System — Division  and  Cleaver  St.,  Headley,  Pickard, 
Sheldon,  Scammon  (brick  building),  Ward  and  Wentworth  Av. ; and  the  heating  and  ventilation  of  the  north 
half  of  the  Lawndale  school  has  been  completed.  ” * * * 


XORTIICOTT  & STINK,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


115 


‘‘The  improvements  in  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  school  buildings  actually  made  and  undertaken, 
during  the  past  year,  have  been,  it  is  safe  to  say,  more  numerous  and  radical  than  those  of  any  previous  year 
in  the  history  of  Chicago,  and  probably  they  surpass  any  year’s  work  in  this  direction  ever  done  by  any  city  in  any 
land.  The  improvements  in  ventilation  alone  have  bettered  the  condition  of  more  than  17,000  different  pupils. 
Following  is  a statement  of  the  more  important  changes: 

“Thirteen  old  school  houses  having  old  style  furnaces  and  defective  ventilation,  have  had  their  heating 
apparatus  removed  and  have  received,  instead,  large  Ruttan  Furnaces  with  good  fresh  air  supply.  At  the 
same  time  the  old  foul  air  ducts,  such  as  they  were,  have  been  discarded  and  in  their  stead  large  shafts  have 
been  substituted.  In  the  center  of  each  large  shaft  stands  an  iron  smoke-stack,  which  warms  the  air  of  the 
shaft,  causing  a rapid  up-current,  and  consequent  exhaust  of  the  foul  air  from  the  rooms.  At  a moderate 
estimate  the  changes  mentioned  give  each  school  room  effected  by  them  more  than  twice,  probably  three 
times,  as  much  fresh  air  as  they  formerly  had,  and  reduce  in  the  same  ratio  the  fouling  of  the  air  the  pupils 
breathe.  With  the  temperature  outdoors  at  zero,  Fahrenheit,  the  new  apparatus  put  into  these  buildings  sup- 
plies every  pupil  per  hour  an  average  of  about  1,500  cubic  feet  of  fresh  air,  while  a corresponding  volume  of 
foul  air  is  carried  off-.  This  statement  is  based  on  observations  actually  made  with  instruments  of  precision 
in  the  hands  of  experts  who  were  entirely  unconnected  with  the  builders  of  the  machinery. 

“ In  six  buildings  the  work  was  completed  in  time  to  be  tested  during  the  severe  weather  of  the  past 
winter,  when  it  gave  entire  satisfaction,  and  great  comfort  to  the  teachers  and  pupils. 

“ There  attended  these  thirteen  schools  during  the  past  year,  upward  of  13,000  different  pupils.  These 
children  have,  by  the  improvements  made,  passed  from  a stuffy  and  impure  air  into  one  approaching  the 
ideal  for  an  occupied  room.” 


Extracts  from  Minutes  of  Chicago  Board  of  Education,  January  11,  1883: 

“Mr.  Garvy,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Buildings  and  Grounds,  presented  the  following: 

To  the  Boaro  of  Education  of  the  City  of  Chicago  : 

“ Gentlemen, — Your  Committee  on  Buildings  and  Grounds  respectfully  report  that,  on  September  7,  the 
Board  directed  the  preparation  of  plans  for  a tifteen-room  school  building  to  be  erected  on  the  lot  corner 
Wentworth  avenue  and  Thirty-third  street,  with  a view  of  using  steam  for  heating  and  ventilation. 

“ Your  committee,  after  a careful  consideration  and  investigation  of  the  most  economical  method  of  heat- 
ing school  buildings,  are  of  the  opinion  that  while  steam,  in  comparison  with  the  Ruttan  System,  is  about 
three  times  as  expensive  to  introduce  and  nearly  twice  as  expensive  to  operate,  the  temperature  and  ventila- 
tion of  the  class  rooms  are  fully  as  good  from  the  Ruttan  Furnace  system  as  from  steam  heating. 

“ Your  committee  would  therefore  ask  authority,  in  giving  the  architect  instructions  to  prepare  plans  for 
the  above  described  building  to  adopt  the  Ruttan  System  of  heating  and  ventilation  for  said  building  instead 
of  steam,  as  at  present  ordered  by  the  Board. 

John  W.  Garvy,  \ Committee  on 
M.  J.  Dunne,  j Buildings  and  Grounds. 

“ Mr.  Story  moved  to  concur  in  the  recommendations  of  the  committee. 

“ Mr.  Hoyne  moved  that  the  consideration  of  the  question  be  postponed  to  next  meeting  of  Board. 

“ The  motion  to  postpone  was  carried.” 

From  Minutes  of  Next  Meeting,  January  25,  1883  : 

“ Mr.  Garvy,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Buildings  and  Grounds,  called  up  the  report  of  the  committee 
presented  at  the  meeting  held  January  11,  1883,  recommending  that  the  new  building  to  be  erected  corner 
Wentworth  avenue  and  Thirty-third  street  be  heated  by  the  Ruttan  Furnace  System  instead  of  by  steam. 

“ On  motion  of  Mr.  Dunne,  the  recommendation  of  the  committee  was  concurred  in.” 

This  is  the  very  strongest  commendation  of  the  Ruttan  System  and  Ruttan  Air  Warmers,  and  was  given  after  a two  years'  trial 
of  our  work. 


Office  of  the  Board  of  Education,  District  No.  2, 
Denver,  Colorado,  April  26,  1884. 

Louis  Rochat,  Atchison,  Kansas  : 

Dear  Sir, — In  reply  to  yours  of  the  14th  inst.,  I would  say  that  we  have  in  our  city  six  school  buildings 
heated  by  the  Ruttan  System,  four  that  are  heated  by  steam,  and  several  by  the  hot  air  system,  and  we 
consider  the  Ruttan  System  of  heating  and  ventilating  superior  to  all  of  them,  both  in  economy  and  results. 

The  Central  School  is  a six-room  building,  erected  in  1880,  and  heated  by  two  Ruttan  Furnaces,  which 
cost  us  §1,350,  whereas  the  lowest  bid  we  were  able  to  get  to  heat  it  by  steam  was  §1,850.  The  cost  of  repairs 
on  these  to  date  (three  years)  is  §17.  * * * * The  amount  of  coal  charged  to  this  building  last 

year  was  §278.25. 

The  Ebert  School  is  an  eight-room  building,  erected  in  1880,  and  is  heated  by  steam.  The  expense  for 
repairs  alone  on  the  apparatus  last  year  was  §118.50.  The  amount  of  coal  charged  to  the  Ebert  for  the  last 
year  was  §531.90. 

The  Franklin  School  * * * contains  thirteen  school  rooms,  Superintendent’s  office,  two 

wardrobes  to  each  room,  a Director’s  office  and  two  very  large  halls  * * is  heated  by  four  Ruttan 
Furnaces  and  has  been  in  use  one  winter — no  expense  for  repairs.  The  amount  of  coal  charged  to  this 
building  for  the  year  is  §510.  An  exact  record  was  kept  for  the  month  of  January  last,  and  the  building  was 
warmed  twenty-six  days  and  consumed  nineteen  tons  of  soft  coal. 

The  Gilpin  School  is  a twelve-room  building  and  is  heated  by  steam  ; was  built  about  two  years  ago. 
The  expense  for  repairs  on  heating  apparatus  last  year  was  S148.  and  the  amount  of  coal  charged  to  it  was 
§744.25. 

The  Longfellow  School  is  an  eight-room  building,  heated  by  the  hot  air  system.  It  cost  for  fuel  last 
year  §494.39. 


116 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


The  Fail-mount  School  is  a six-room  building,  heated  by  the  Ruttan  System  for  two  winters,  and  no 
expense  for  repairs.  It  cost  us  for  fuel  last  winter  $220.50. 

The  other  three  buildings  heated  by  the  Ruttan  System  have  been  in  use  one  and  two  winters  with  no 
expense  for  repairs,  and  the  amount  of  fuel  used  is  substantially  the  same  as  those  given.  I think  the 
record  of  the  buildings  mentioned  sufficient  to  establish  the  fact  that  the  Ruttan  System  is  the  most 
economical  in  three  things : first  cost,  fuel  and  repairs,  besides  having  the  advantage  of  giving  better  results  in 
ventilation.  We  have  two  men  on  our  board  who  are  practical  steam  men,  and  thoroughly  understand  the 
steam  system,  and  they  are  opposed  to  the  use  of  steam  where  heat  and  ventilation  only  are  required.  * 
* * They  are  at  the  head  of  the  Denver  & Rio  Grande  shops  * * * and  are  perfectly  aware 

of  the  petty  annoyances  of  burnt  crown-sheets,  leaking  flues,  sediment  deposits,  condensation  of  steam  in 
pipes,  freeze-ups,  bursting  pipes,  leaking  joints,  etc.,  etc.,  to  say  notliing  of  its  first  cost.  In  conclusion,  let 
me  say  that  there  comes  a time  in  the  history  of  every  boiler  when  it  must  come  out  either  for  repairs  or  to 
be  replaced  by  a new  one,  either  of  which  is  very  expensive,  while  everything  connected  with  the  Ruttan 
System  that  is  liable  to  wear  out  can  be  replaced  at  small  cost  and  without  detriment  to  the  building  or 
furnaces. 

Please  excuse  delay,  as  I wished  to  examine  the  books  before  answering,  so  as  to  give  exact  figures. 

We  pay  five  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  ($5.25)  per  ton  for  soft  coal. 

Respectfully  yours,  A.  D.  Shepard,  President  of  the  Board. 


During  a recent  contest  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  the  following  statement  was  made  to  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion of  that  city,  by  those  trying  to  secure  the  introduction  of  Steam  Heating  Apparatus,  to-wit : “If  you 
“ want  something  that  costs  more  to  begin  with,  but  less  for  fuels  and  repairs,  put  in  steam  ; but  if  you  want 
“ something  that  is  cheap  in  the  first  cost,  but  very  expensive  afterward,  put  in  the  Ruttan  Furnaces.”  In 
reply  to  this  we  said : “ If  that  is  true,  you  certainly  do  not  want  the  Ruttan  System,  and  therefore  we 
“ request  that  you  correspond  with  those  using  both,  and  learn  from  their  experience.”  Mr.  Rochat  of  that 
board  wrote  to  Denver,  asking  about  the  two  systems,  especially  as  to  the  cost  for  fuel,  and  repairs  on  the 
heating  apparatus,  and  received  the  letter  hereto  attached  in  reply.  It  was  written  without  solicitation  on 
our  part,  and  is  published  by  permission.  By  analyzing  it  you  will  find  the  following  tabulated  statement 
to  be  true,  figured  on  the  basis  that  the  heating  apparatus  was  used  six  months  of  the  year,  to-wit : 


Name  of  Building. 

No.  of  Rooms. 

How  Heated. 

ICost  of  Fuel  per  Year. 
At  85.25  per  ton. 

Cost  of  Fuel  per  Month 
per  Room. 

Cost  of  Repairs  on  Heating 
Apparatus  per  Year. 

Central  Sehool 

0 

Ruttan  System. 

8278  15 

8 7 73 

8 5 <>6 

Ebert  School 

8 

Steam. 

531  90 

11  08 

118  50 

Franklin  School 

14 

Ruttan  System 

510  00 

6 07 

Nothing. 

Gilpin  School 

12 

Steam. 

714  23 

10  03 

148  00 

Longfellow  School 

8 

Hot  Air  System. 

494  39 

10  29 

Not  given. 

Fairmount  School 

6 

Ruttan  System. 

220  50 

6 12 

Nothing. 

Average  cost  to  heat  rooms  per  month  by  RUTTAN  SYSTEM $ .6  74 

Average  cost  to  heat  rooms  per  month  by  Hot  Air  System 10  29 

Average  cost  to  heat  rooms  per  month  by  Steam 10  70 

Per  cent  saved  by  using  RUTTAN  SYSTEM 371 

Also  please  note  the  difference  in  cost  for  repairs. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  BUILDINGS  AT  ROCHELLE,  SHELBY YILLE,  TUSCOLA,  ILL.,  AND  MICHIGAN 
CITY,  IND.,  ALL  WARMED  AND  VENTILATED  BY  THE  RUTTAN  SYSTEM. 

Ruttan  Manuf’g  Co.  : Rochelle,  111.,  May  11,  1885. 

Gentlemen, — Your  favor  of  the  11th  duly  received.  In  reply  to  your  inquiry,  the  Ruttan  Furnaces  in  the 
public  school  building,  also  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  Opera  House,  are  giving  good  satisfaction,  and 
doing  the  work  required  of  them  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties. 

Respectfully  yours,  A.  Bain. 

HIGH  SCHOOL  BUILDING,  PRINCETON,  ILL. 

W.  D.  Parker,  River  Falls,  Wis. : Princeton,  111. 

We  have  five  No.  5 Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Furnaces;  three  in  one  building  and  two  in  another 
and  in  addition  our  High  School  Board  have  purchased  three  more  for  use  in  high  school  building  (formerly 
heated  by  the  old  style  hot-air  furnaces).  It  is  next  to  impossible  to  get  the  janitors  to  use  little  enough  coal. 
They  keep  the  rooms  too  warm.  A very  small  fire  in  a No.  5 furnace  will  warm  two  rooms  thirty  feet  square. 
In  an  hour  we  can  warm  any  of  our  buildings  in  the  coldest  weather  to  70°.  As  a heater  and  ventilator,  the 
Ruttan  Furnace  is  the  best  I know  of,  and  indeed,  the  only  satisfactory  one.  I like  it  better  than  steam. 

Respectfully,  C.  P.  Snow,  Sup't  City  Schools. 

S.  L.  Bailey,  Chicago,  111. : Cherokee,  Iowa,  April  6, 1885. 

Dear  Sir, — We  have  the  Ruttan  System  of  heating  and  ventilation  in  our  new  $20,000  house.  With  our 
four  furnaces  we  are  able  to  warm  all  the  rooms  in  the  coldest  weather,  and  to  keep  the  air  in  them  pure  all 
the  time. 

I feel  confident  that  we  have  the  best  system  now  in  operation. 

Very  respectfully, 

Geo.  T.  Foster,  Sup't  City  Schools. 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


1 IT 


Boone,  Iowa,  June  4,  1880. 

Secretary  Board  of  Education,  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa: 

Sir, — Yours  of  the  1st  received  and  contents  noted.  We  are  using  both  steam  and  the  Ruttan  System  in 
our  school  buildings. 

Our  high  school  building  was  especially  arranged  for  steam  ; boiler-room  was  marked  upon  the  ground 
plan.  Both  give  us  a sufficient  heat.  Our  steam  does  not  secure  good  ventilation,  nor  can  heat  by  it  be 
obtained  in  a short  time.  The  Ruttan  Heaters  secure  use  good  heat  and  the  best  of  ventilation. 

The  expense  for  heating  three  buildings  with  the  Ruttan  Heaters,  where  we  have  had  during  the  year 
nearly  400  children,  has  been  but  little  more  than  one-half  what  it  has  been  with  steam  in  one  building 
where  we  have  had  226  pupils.  The  case  is  this — with  Ruttan  it  is  live  days  each  week,  say  eight  hours  per 
day ; with  steam  it  is  seven  days  per  week,  24  hours  per  day.  As  it  has  been  with  us,  I must  say  I would 
prefer  the  Ruttan.  Very  respectfully, 

W.  1’.  Todd. 

P.  S. — When  our  high  school  building  was  erected  in  ’78  I was  in  favor  of  steam. — T. 


Engineer  Department,  District  of  Columbia, 
Laboratory  of  the  Chemist,  >• 

Washington,  February  26,  1885.  j 

The  Honorable  Commissioners,  District  of  Columbia  : 

Gentlemen, — I have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  compliance  with  directions  of  Commissioner  General  J. 
R.  West,  to  make  tests  and  analyses  of  the  atmospheric  air  of  the  “ Twining  ” and  “ Banneker  ” school 
buildings,  I have  performed  and  make  the  following  statement : 

On  the  17th  inst.  I made  some  tests  in  both  of  these  buildings,  which  lead  me  to  the  following  con- 
clusions as  to  the  normal  condition  of  the  air  therein.  The  tests  made  in  the  Twining  building  were  in 
School  No.  9,  on  the  third  floor,  containing  56  white  children,  and  in  School  No.  6,  on  the  second  floor, 
containing  57  colored  children.  On  the  25th  inst.  I returned  to  the  Twining  building  in  order  to  make  a 
quantitative  analysis  of  the  air. 

The  process  followed  by  me  is  that  laid  down  by  Boussingault,  based  upon  the  absorption  of  carbonic 
acid  by  caustic  potash  and  moisture  by  strong  sulphuric  acid,  and  finally  the  absorption  of  oxygen  by 
copper,  etc. 

The  result  of  these  analyses  (taking  the  air  from  various  heights  in  the  school)  are  as  follows  : 


Outside  air 000.03  Carbonic  Acid.  23.00  Oxygen.  1 

Air  Banneker  School - By  weight. 

Air  Twining  School  No.  9 000.045  “ “ 22.94  “ j 


It  is  therefore  concluded  that  the  air  in  the  Twining  School  is  of  normal  condition,  which  is  attributable  to  good 
ventilation  of  the  rooms. 

It  is  the  atmospheric  air  which  is  brought  in  a large  volume  by  the  heating  apparatus  from  outside  into 
these  buildings  ; and  the  hot  air  of  the  rooms  finding  an  outlet  into  cold  conduits,  effects  a constant  renewal 
of  air.  Herein  lies  the  secret  of  the  small  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  found  in  the  rooms  thus  ventilated. 

This  report  refers  more  particularly  to  the  Twining  building.  I intend  to  again  visit  the  Banneker 
building  and  make  an  additional  analysis  of  the  atmospheric  air  therein,  the  report  of  which  will  be 
forwarded  hereafter.  Very  respectfully, 

E.  J.  DeSmedt,  Chemist,  District  of  Columbia. 


Engineer  Department,  District  of  Columbia, 
Laboratory  of  the  Chemist, 

Washington,  March  3, 1885. 

The  Honorable  Commissioners,  District  of  Columbia  : 

Gentlemen, — Yesterday  I again  visited  the  Banneker  School  building,  and  made  there  a quantitative 
analysis  of  the  air  in  Room  No.  4 on  second  floor,  while  occupied  by  52  colored  children  and  one  teacher. 
Result  of  analysis  by  weight : 

Carbonic  Acid — 000.04  per  cent.  Oxygen — 22.98  per  cent. 

This  air  is  of  normal  condition. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,  E.  J.  DeSmedt,  Chemist,  District  of  Columbia. 


THE  REPORT  OF  WASHINGTON  (D.  C.)  COMMITTEE  ON  BUILDINGS  AND  REPAIRS. 

At  a Meeting  of  the  Board,  June,  13,  1882. 

The  Committee  on  Buildings  and  Repairs  have  to  report  for  the  information  of  the  Board: 

That  since  the  last  meeting,  a proposition  for  furnishing  an  apparatus  for  heating  and  ventilating  the 
Webster  and  Gale  school  buildings  was  submitted  to  the  District  Commissioners,  and  by  them  referred  to  this 
Committee  for  approval  or  disapproval. 

A special  meeting  of  the  Committee  was  held,  and  the  proposition  with  the  plans  therefor  were  con- 
sidered, and  unanimously  approved,  for  the  following  reasons  : 

1.  Because  it  guarantees  a temperature  of  70°  in  the  coldest  weather,  thus  preventing  the  possibility  of 
having  to  close  any  of  the  schools  on  account  of  a lack  of  warmth,  as  had  to  be  frequently  done  heretofore. 

2.  Because  it  provides  for  the  admission  of  double  the  quantity  of  fresh  air  that  the  original  plan  did. 

3.  Because  it  provides  means  for  the  admission  of  fresh  air,  even  when  the  heat  is  shut  off,  and  without  open- 
ing the  doors  or  windows,  which  the  original  plan  will  not  do. 


118 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  X.  Y. 


4.  Because  it  provides  means  for  regulating  the  temperature  of  the  rooms,  by  the  mingling  of  fresh  cold 
and  warm  air  at  will,  which  is  not  done  by  any  other  plans,  either  proposed  or  in  use,  so  far  as  known. 

5.  Because  it  guarantees  an  entire  change  of  air  in  each  school  room,  once  every  twenty  minutes,  if 
desired,  thus  securing  the  most  thorough  ventilation. 

6.  Because  it  guarantees  the  District  against  any  expense  for  repairs,  except  the  burning  out  of  grate 
bars,  lining,  and  short  smoke  pipe,  for  ten  years. 

7.  Because  it  is  simpler  and  cheaper,  both  as  to  first  cost  and  as  to  management,  than  any  steam  heating 
apparatus,  and  would  prevent  the  possibility  of  loss  by  the  bursting  of  coils,  as  well  as  the  trouble  arising 
from  the  want  of  proper  management  of  the  air  valves,  as  in  the  present  buildings. 

8.  Because  the  proposition  included  the  building  of  two  brick  ventilating  flues  in  each  building,  in  accordance 
with  the  previous  recommendation  of  the  Board. 

9.  Because  it  would  save  §4,900  from  the  estimates  made  by  the  Inspector  of  Buildings,  for  the  heating 
apparatus  and  the  ventilating  Hues,  in  these  two  buildings. 

10.  Because  one-fourth  of  the  cost  was  to  be  retained  until  the  apparatus  had  been  tested  one  entire 
winter,  and  then,  if  not  entirely  satisfactory,  the  apparatus  was  to  be  removed  at  the  expense  of  the  parties 
furnishing  it,  and  without  detriment  to  the  buildings. 

It  will  be  observed  that  several  of  the  foregoing  reasons  are  exactly  in  accord  with  the  suggestions  of  the 
Special  Committee  appointed  by  the  house  of  representatives  on  the  20th  of  February  last ; for  in  thejr 
report  (on  p.  3),  in  speaking  of  the  Peabody,  Force,  Henry  and  U street  buildings,  they  say : 

“ The  principal  defect,  from  a sanitary  point  of  view,  in  all  these  buildings  is  in  regard  to  the  fresh  air 
supply,  which  is  entirely  insufficient.” 

And  again,  on  page  4,  they  say  : 

“ The  heating  apparatus  in  these  buildings  is  entirely  insufficient  to  heat  during  cold  weather  the  amount 
of  air  supply  which  should  be  furnished.” 

Again  the  report  says : 

“ There  is  no  provision  in  any  building  for  diminishing  the  temperature  of  the  incoming  air  without  totally 
cutting  off  the  supply  of  heat,  and  when  the  rooms  become  over-heated,  as  appears  to  be  not  infrequently 
the  case,  the  only  method  of  cooling  is  to  shut  off  the  heat  and  open  the  windows,  thus  creating  drafts.” 

Your  Committee  would  further  state  for  the  information  of  the  Board,  that  nearly  a year  ago  its  chair- 
man, becoming  satisfied  that  a better  plan  than  any  hitherto  in  use  here  might  be  found  for  heating  and 
ventilating  our  school  buildings,  set  on  foot  an  investigation  on  that  subject;  and  finding  that  the  proposed 
plan  was  in  extensive  use  elsewhere,  especially  at  the  West,  he  prepared  a circular  of  inquiry  and  sent  it  to 
the  school  authorities  in  various  sections  where  this  apparatus  was  in  use.  The  result  was  a series  of  letters 
from  the  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Wisconsin,  the  professors  in  their  normal  schools,  the  principals  of 
their  high  schools,  the  State  Superintendent,  the  proprietor  of  the  Mt.  Carroll  Seminary  at  Mt.  Carroll,  111., 
who  also  refers  to  their  member  of  congress,  Hon.  R.  M.  A.  Hawk,  and  from  the  business  agent  of  the  School 
Board  at  Chicago,  all  of  whom  testified  in  the  highest  terms  to  the  success  of  the  proposed  apparatus  as  used 
in  their  schools. 

This  information  had,  from  time  to  time,  been  laid  before  this  Committee,  and  the  matter  had  been  fully 
examined  and  considered  long  before  the  proposition  was  referred  to  them  by  the  District  Commissioners  ; 
and  it  will  therefore  be  seen  that  the  Committee  did  not  act  without  full  knowledge  of  the  subject  when  they 
recommended  its  adoption.  „,r  „ _ _ . , ^ 

\\ . C.  Dodge,  Chairman  of  Committee. 


NORTFICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


1 1!) 


WARMING 


AND  VENTILATION  OF  CHURCHES. 


TO  those  interested  in  the  question  of  warming  and  ventilating  church  edifices  we  submit  the 
following  letters  received  by  Mr.  J.  II.  Puck,  chairman  of  a committee  appointed  by  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  of  Toledo,  to  investigate,  with  a view  of  purchasing  the  best  system 
of  warming  for  their  church  that  could  be  found,  the  one  now  in  use  having  totally  failed  to 
heat  the  building. 


J.  H.  Puck,  Esq.,  Toledo,  O. : Geneva,  Ohio,  April  28,  1885. 

Dear  Sir , — Replying  to  your  favor  of  25th  in  regard  to  the  Ruttan  Heating  and  Ventilating  System  as 
used  by  us,  would  say  that  we  consider  it  the  best  of  all  in  the  circle  of  our  knowledge  of  heaters.  Our 
experience  during  the  past  winter  has  been  that  we  could  easily  heat  our  church  in  the  coldest  weather,  in 
fact  the  only  fault  we  find  is  that  our  sexton  keeps  the  room  too  warm.  If  we  were  to  put  in  another  would 
buy  the  Ruttan-Smead  apparatus. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  C.  W.  Knapp,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


J.  H.  Puck,  Esq.,  Toledo,  0. : Hartford  City,  Ind.,  April  28, 18S5. 

Dear  Sir. — Your  favor  of  25th  ins!  to  hand.  We  have  used  the  Ruttan-Smead  Furnace  for  seven  years 
in  our  church,  40  by  80,  35-foot  ceiling.  Have  no  trouble  in  making  all  parts  of  the  house  comfortable  in  the 
coldest  weather,  provided  fire  is  started  soon  enough  to  allow  all  the  air  to  pass  through  the  furnace.  I have 
served  our  church  in  all  relations  from  sexton  to  pastor,  and  am  perfectly  free  to  say  that  the  Ruttan-Smead 
System  is  the  best  of  which  I have  any  knowledge.  All  parts  of  the  house,  except  the  gallery,  are  of  same 
temperature.  If  we  were  building  again  we  would  use  the  same  heating  system. 

Respectfully,  E.  T.  Chaffee, 

President  Board  Trustees,  Grace  M.  E.  Church. 


Mr.  J.  H.  Puck  : Sidney,  Ohio,  April  26,  1875. 

Dear  Sir, — The  furnace  placed  in  our  church  by  Isaac  D.  Sinead  & Co.,  answers  the  purpose  admirably 
The  system  is  correct  and  your  people  can  do  no  better.  While  the  outlay  may  seem  to  them  large  it  will  be 
economy  in  the  end.  If  you  trv  to  warm  or  ventilate  your  church  without  the  change  which  Mr.  Sinead 
proposes,  you  will  certainly  fail,  whatever  furnace  you  may  use.  We  regard  the  arrangements  of  our 
church  for  heating  and  ventilating  eminently  successful. 

Yours  truly,  D.  R.  Silver. 


Mr.  J.  W.  Puck  : Lima,  Ohio,  April  27,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — Yours,  making  inquiries  about  the  Ruttan  Furnace,  just  received.  In  reply  I have  to  say  that 
we  are  well  satisfied  with  the  furnace.  The  heating  and  ventilation  are  as  good  as  we  could  wish.  Had  it  in 
use  four  years  ; is  still  in  good  condition. 

Yours,  etc.,  J.  R.  Hughes. 

J.  H.  Puck,  Toledo,  Ohio  : Bloomington,  Ind.,  April  28,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — Your  favor  inquiring  about  Ruttan  Furnaces  received.  We  are  much  pleased  with  ours.  We 
have  used  it  in  our  new  Christian  Church  since  February  1,  and,  of  course,  through  some  of  the  coldest 
weather  of  this  cold  winter.  We  find,  with  the  thermometer  10  or  15  degrees  below  zero,  the  room  can  be 
comfortably  warmed  with  one  large  register  in  from  two  to  three  hours.  I am  inclined  to  believe  it  to  be  the 
best  thing  to  be  had.  Hastily,  etc., 

Amzi  Atwater. 


Mr.  J.  H.  Puck:  Bellevue,  Ohio,  April  29,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — We  put  the  Ruttan  furnace  in  our  beautiful  new  church,  at  Shelby,  and  I will,  and  must  say 
for  it  that  it  is  a great  success,  both  for  ventilating  and  heating.  I am  now  stationed  at  Bellevue,  and  we 
expect  to  put  the  same  furnace  into  our  church  here.  I should  put  it  in  even  at  twice  the  cost  of  any  other 
furnace  that  I have  ever  heard  of,  and  I have  made  the  furnace  business  a study  for  years.  Air.  Sinead  is 
right  in  not  letting  his  furnace  go  in  without  the  ventilating  flue,  for  one  of  the  principal  sources  of  its  suc- 
cess is  its  system  of  ventilation.  Yours  truly, 


(Rev.)  Geo.  L.  Hanawalt. 


120 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


Mr.  J.  H.  Puck:  Creston,  Ohio,  April  28,  1885. 

Your  letter  just  received  this  morning.  Now,  concerning  the  heater  and  ventilator,  I will  say  this,  that 
if  you  get  any  other  heater  (at  least  anything  that  ever  I saw)  you  will  not  be  satisfied.  But  if  you  get  Mr. 
Smead’s  put  in,  although  it  is  more  expensive,  you  cannot  help  being  satisfied.  Our  neighboring  churches 
will  remove  their  old  heaters  just  as  soon  as  they  have  the  means.  We  can  heat  our  church  in  an  hour,  with 
the  mercury  at  12°  below.  We  have  good,  fresh,  warm  air,  and  a circulation  of  this  fresh  air  all  the  time,  and 
no  headache.  Our  organization  is  just  a year  and  a half  old,  and  of  course  are  not  very  far  along  financially, 
but  we  concluded  we  had  better  spend  our  money  for  something  that  was  right  at  first,  and  in  so  doing  save 
money  ; and  I saw  at  first  glance  that  the  Ruttan-Smead  Heater  and  Ventilator  was  got  up  on  the  correct 
principle  for  health,  comfort,  and  economy.  I can  heartily  recommend  to  you  Isaac  D.  Smead’s  system,  and 
I think  you  will  never  regret  it  if  you  buy.  Cost  is  nothing,  if  you  have  something  that  will  suit  you. 
Remember  that  I have  no  interest  in  this  heating  concern,  neither  do  I get  paid  for  recommending,  but  that 
you  may  have  a comfortable  place  to  worship  God.  Yours, 

G.  W.  Littell. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Puck,  Toledo,  Ohio:  Sharon,  Pa.,  May  2, 1885. 

Dear  Sir, — Yours  of  the  25th  April  at  hand.  Please  excuse  delay  in  answering,  caused  by  press  of  work. 

You  inquire  about  the  Ruttan  Ventilating  and  Heating  Furnace.  I can  say  of  it,  after  a careful  trial  of  it, 
during  the  past  very  cold  winter,  that  it  is  the  best  heating  apparatus  that  I have  ever  yet  seen  for  use  in 
church  buildings,  and  I verily  believe  the  best  there  is  made,  and  the  best  possible  to  be  made,  because  con- 
structed upon  the  true  principle  of  heating  and  ventilating  combined.  The  success  of  the  system  depends 
entirely  upon  having  the  ventilating  and  smoke  flues  large  enough  and  properly  constructed.  The  expense 
is  nothing  compared  with  the  comfort  and  delight  experienced  in  having  your  church  warm,  comfortable  and 
well  supplied  with  pure  air  in  the  cold,  bleak  days  of  the  coldest  winter;  beside,  the  expense  of  heating, 
when  once  you  have  the  “ System  ” in  its  completeness,  is  far  less  than  by  any  other  way  of  heating  known  to 
myself.  During  some  of  the  coldest  days  of  the  winter  just  passed,  when  our  school  buildings,  heated  by 
steam  apparatus,  were  compelled  to  be  closed  because  they  could  not  be  sufficiently  warmed  in  time  for 
school,  we  could  have  our  church  as  warm  as  on  other  times  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  hours,  without  in 
any  way  urging  the  furnace  beyond  the  usual  manner  of  heating.  I think  I can  safely  say  that  one-third  of 
the  fuel  is  saved  by  this  system  as  compared  with  steam  heating,  to  say  nothing  of  the  ease  of  heating,  and 
delight  in  breathing  at  all  times  a fresh,  pure,  warm  air.  With  best  wishes  for  your  success, 

I am  yours  truly,  H.  C.  Hall, 

Pastor  Sharon  Baptist  Church. 

J.  H.  Puck,  Esq.,  Toledo,  Ohio:  Dayton,  Ohio,  April  28,  1885. 

Dear  Sir, — Your  favor  of  25th  inst.  has  been  received.  Mr.  Smead  contracted  with  us  that  for  a certain 
sum  he  would  put  in  apparatus  to  warm  Christ  Church,  and  he  fulfilled  his  contract.  We  have  no  ventilat- 
ing shaft,  but  have  contrived  a substitute  by  using  the  stairway  to  the  steeple.  This  answers  in  but  an  indif- 
ferent manner.  In  justice  to  Mr.  Smead  I should  state  that  he  did  not  recommend  or  guarantee  the  perform- 
ance of  the  ventilating  shaft.  We  have  had  no  trouble  in  keeping  our  church  comfortable  this  winter,  and 
yrou  know  we  have  had  extremely  cold  weather.  Trusting  this  will  give  the  desired  information, 

Yours  truly,  J.  Lane  Reed. 


From  the  Examiner  ( New  York),  March  13,  1884. 

DR.  GOW’S  VENTILATION  EXPERIENCE. 

Mr.  Editor, — The  method  described  by  the  second  correspondent  of  March  6,  comes  very  near  the  Ruttan 
system  of  ventilation.  That  system  seems  to  come  as  near  perfection  as  human  frailty  will  allow.  We  have 
it  in  our  new  chapel.  It  is  a building  about  sixty  feet  square  and  thirty  feet  high  in  the  main  room.  A 
Ruttan-Smead  furnace  with  the  Ruttan  system  of  ventilation  heats  it.  We  have  already  tested  it  in  the 
essential  points.  When  the  thermometer  is  at  25°  below  zero  we  can  make  our  rooms  warm  enough  for 
public  service  in  two  hours,  from  65°  to  70°,  as  we  wish.  The  thermometer,  at  a recent  test,  showed  a differ- 
ence of  only  2°  between  the  floor  and  eighteen  feet  above  the  floor.  It  is  not  necessary  to  open  windows  and 
doors  to  change  the  air  in  the  rooms.  The  ventilating  system  gives  a continual  supply  of  air  as  sweet  and 
warm  as  a June  day,  and  as  continually  removes  whatever  is  impure  or  below  the  required  temperature.  A 
congregation  does  not  have  time  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  room  all  over  before  the  first  supply  is  entirely 
removed  and  a fresh  supply  is  poured  in  upon  them. 

There  is  no  longer  any  need  of  cold  feet  or  bad  air  in  churches  or  public  buildings.  A service  ten  hours 
long,  with  a packed  audience,  with  no  opening  of  windows  or  doors  or  ventilators  in  the  roof  or  walls,  will 
leave  the  air  as  pure  as  it  was  fifteen  minutes  after  the  crowd  came  in.  Isaac  D.  Smead  & Co.,  of  Toledo,  0., 
will  guarantee  these  things  to  any  church,  permitting  the  church  to  write  the  guarantee  in  any  terms  which 
its  sharpest  lawyer  may  select.  Our  experience  already  satisfies  us  that  they  will  forfeit  nothing  on  their 
guarantee  to  us. 

Glen’s  Falls,  N.  Y.,  March  5. 


G.  B.  Gow. 


NORT1 ICOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


121 


REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  HEATING  AND 

VENTILATION. 


SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  4,  AURORA,  ILLINOIS. 


PRELIMINARY. 

So  much  perversion,  misstatement  and  misrepresentation  has  been  indulged  in  concerning  the  introduction  and  trial  in  the 
West  School  District  of  two  Smead  Heaters,  especially  designed  for  school-room  use,  that  the  facts  will  be  welcomed  by  candid  minds. 

The  fuel  bills  of  this  school  district  were  enormous,  amounting,  in  winter  previous  to  the  past,  to  $597.  The  Ruttan  Company, 
manufacturing  at  Bloomington,  called  the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Education  to  their  school-room  heater,  and  promised  that  they 
would  work  a very  great  saving  in  fuel,  and  proposed  that  two  of  them  should  be  taken  on  trial  for  a winter,  and  that  they  would 
take  them  away  and  save  the  board  harmless  from  all  cost,  in  case  their  guarantees  as  to  them  were  not  fulfilled. 

The  board,  by  unanimous  vote,  determined  to  test  them,  and  authorized  the  committee  on  heating  and  ventilation  to  place  two 
of  them  in  the  school  for  trial,  which  was  done,  and  in  due  course  of  time  it  became  the  duty  of  that  committee  to  make  report  to 
the  board  concerning  the  workings  of  the  stoves. 

It  is  hoped  that  no  taxpayer  will  fail  to  candidly  peruse  the  report,  and  that  no  parent,  who  values  the  health  and  well-being 
-of  his  children,  will  neglect  to  read  it,  to  the  end  that  "just  and  unimpassioned  information  may  obtain. 


THE  REPORT. 


To  the  Board  of  Education,  District  No.  1. 


The  subject  of  heating  and  ventilating  school  buildings  is  the  most  important  question  with  which  boards  of  education  have  to 
•deal.  The  sanitary  condition  of  an  apartment  in  which  a teacher  and  50  or  60  pupils  are  required  to  pass  six  hours  per  day,  should 
be  a matter  of  the  greatest  solicitude  and  concern.  The  branches  taught,  methods  of  instruction,  and  the  efficiency  of  teachers,  are 
matters  of  small  moment  in  comparison,  for  no  amount  of  knowledge  absorbed  by  the  mind  can  compensate  for  an  impairment  of 
the  physical  powers.  Deprived  of  health,  graces  of  mind  and  intellect  but  make  sharper  bodily  suffering. 

Comparatively  easy  is  it  to  heat  a given  number  of  cubic  feet  of  confined  air,  but  to  keep  that  air  in  a condition  fit  to  be  inhaled 
in  a school  room  where" a large  number  of  children  are  constantly  consuming  the  vital  properties  of  the  atmosphere,  and  at  every 
breath  making  it  more  poisonous  to  the  human  system,  rendered  further  impure  by  the  exhalation  from  the  pores  of  the  skin,  and 
the  odor  from  apparel  too  often  soiled,  is  more  difficult,  and  seems  to  be  a question  of  too  little  public  concern. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  physicians,  eminent  in  their  profession,  that  very  many  diseases  are  caused  almost  entirely  by  the  inhalation 
of  a poisonous  atmosphere.  A well  known  practitioner  in  Chicago  recently  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  prevalence  of  scarlet  fever 
among  the  public  school  children  of  that  city  was  due  to  the  want  of  ventilation.  “ Man’s  worst  enemy  is  his  own  breath." 

We  have  in  this  school  district  numbers  of  children  that  are  prostrated  from  time  to  time  by  the  foul  air  of  our  school  rooms,  so 
as  to  keep  them  from  school  for  weeks  together.  A prominent  physician  said  to  one  of  your  committee  that  he  was  unable  to  send 
his  daughter  to  our  school  for  that  cause ; while  another  gentleman,  who  has  been  honored  as  chief  magistrate  of  our  city,  traces  the 
cause  ot  a fond  daughter’s  death  directly  to  her  efforts  to  obtain  y.n  education  in  our  unventilated  school  rooms,  and  a daughter  of  a 
clergyman  is  said  to  have  died  from  a like  cause. 

In  the  opinion  of  your  committee  there  is  a remedy  within  our  reach ; there  is  no  excuse  for  so  barbaric  a condition ; it  is 
criminal  in  us  as  a board  not  to  recognize  and  afford  a remedy  for  the  evil. 

That  as  a board  we  have  done  this,  in  a measure,  will  appear  further  on. 

Ventilation  should  not  depend  upon  the  whim  of  a janitor  or  the  caprice  of  a teacher,  but  it  should  be  constant,  automatic,  self- 
working, to  be  of  value. 

The  danger  in  a crowded  room,  from  attempted  ventilation  from  open  windows,  when  the  temperature  is  low  out  of  doors,  is 
scarcely  less  than  from  the  inhalation  of  foul  air,  for  where  cold  draughts  are  introduced  into  a room  some  of  its  occupants  must 
seriously  suffer.  Quite  recently  complaint  was  made  to  one  of  your  committee  that  a little  girl  in  No.  4 had  been  made  quite  ill  by  a 
column  "of  cold  air  striking  her"  from  a transom  accustomed  to  be  opened. 

Actuated  by  a desire  to  do  what  was  wise  and  judicious  toward  securing  better  air  for  our  school  rooms,  this  board,  one  year  ago, 
authorized  its  committee  upon  heating  and  ventilation  to  place  in  the  main  school  building,  upon  trial,  two  of  Smead’s  Ventilating 
School-Room  Heaters,  using  bituminous  or  soft  coal  as  fuel ; and  it  is  the  duty  and  pleasure  of  your  committee  to  make  report  there- 
on: 


1st — As  to  their  capacity  as  heaters. 

2d — As  to  their  effectiveness  as  ventilators— their  ability  to  keep  up  a constant  and  abundant  supply  of  pure  warm  air. 

3d — The  cost  of  heating  a school  room  with  one  of  them,  as  compared  with  the  ordinary  anthracite  or  hard  coal  stoves  in  use  in 
the  other  rooms  of  the  same  building. 

The  High  School  room,  from  its  exposed  situation,  and  by  reason  of  its  being  much  larger  than  any  of  the  other  rooms,  lias 
always  been  a difficult  room  to  warm  properly  in  cold  weather, "and  the  efforts  of  two  hard  coal  stoves  have  been  required  therefor. 
It  was  thought  that  this  room  would  afford  a test  of  the  heating  capacity  of  any  one  stove,  and  here  was  placed  one  ot  the  heaters  on 
trial.  By  repealed  tests  with  thermometers,  your  committee  demonstrated  the  fact,  and.  to  our  surprise,  that  the  room  was  warmed  in  every  portion 
alike ; that  there  were  no  cold  comers.  How  thoroughly  they  were  warmed  remains  to  be  seen.  ************** 

It  will  be  observed  with  satisfaction  that  No.  8,  the  High  School  room,  the  largest  and  most  exposed  room  perhaps  in  the 
building,  was  warmed  as  thoroughly  on  this  morning  with  one  of  the  new  heaters  as  smaller  rooms  were  with  two  of  the  ordinary 
stoves.  These  tests  your  committee  deem  evidence  conclusive  as  to  their  power  and  capacity.  No  unusual  endeavor  was  made  to 
produce  these  results. 

Your  committee  will  not  discuss  the  advantage  of  necessary  attendance  upon  one  stove  rather  than  upon  two,  or  of  the  relief 
which  is  afforded  to  a school  room  by  the  absence  of  a second  stove.  The  efficiency  of  these  new  heaters  as  ventilators  can  be  best 
understood  by  an  explanation  of  the  principle  upon  which  they  operate.  They  do  not  warm  the  cold  air  already  in  the  room,  but  displace 
it,  and  inject  warmed  air  into  the  room  to  take  its  place.  A copious  volume  of  pure  fresh  air  from  out  of  doors  passes  constantly  in  contact  with 
the  warm  iron  of  the  heater,  is  warmed  by  the  contaction,  and  then  passes  "into  the  room,  displacing  through  an  exhaust  next  to  the  floor 
a corresponding  volume  of  cold  foul  air.  In  a recent  trial  directed  by  one  of  your  committee,  and  made  by  the  janitor,  it  was  found  that  an 
entire  change  in  the  air  of  the  High  School  room,  containing  13,800  cubic  feet,  was  effected  in  fifteen  minutes.  In  a second  trial  the  same  result 
was  produced  in  twenty  minutes.  Your  committee  were  hardly  prepared  to  believe  it  could  be  accomplished  so  soon.  That  the 
heaters  on  trial  are  powerful  as  heaters,  and  that  they  ventilate  effectually,  is  a conclusion  which  your  committee  cannot  avoid.  * * 

Your  committee  has  not  been  actuated  by  a determination  to  make  a case  for  the  new  heaters,  but  has  felt  that  a system  ot 
heating  which  promised  to  better  guard  the  health  of  the  pupils,  and  provide  warmth  and  comfort  where  there  is  now  chill  and 
inquietude,  was  entitled  to  full  consideration  and  fair  trial,  and  to  such  report  and  commendation  as  might  be  warranted  by  the 
results  obtained. 

Your  committee  have  the  welfare  of  our  school  children  very  near  at  heart,  and  have  a lively  appreciation  of  the  cold  and 
discomfort  which  many  of  them  have  suffered  in  the  past  winter.  " In  rooms  1 and  2 there  have  been  many  days  in  which  it  was 
cruelty  to  confine  small  children  in  apartments  so  cold  as  they  have  been,  and  the  condition  at  the  branch  building  has  been  but 
little  better.  To  summarize,  your  committee  find : 

1st — That  a heater  like  those  on  trial,  has  a heating  capacity  equal  to,  if  not  superior  to,  two  stoves  now  in  use. 

2d — That  one  of  them  produces  an  entire  change  in  the  atmosphere  of  one  of  our  school  rooms  as  often  as  once  in  twenty  minutes. 

3d — That  there  is  a saving  of  forty-tuio  per  cent  of  fuel  in  their  use. 

Respectfully  submitted.  W.  S.  FRAZIER, 


Chairman  Committee  Heating  and  Ventilation. 


122 


XORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  A'. 


STOA^E  GASES. 


WROUGHT-1RON  VS.  CAST-IRON  AND  CARBONIC  OXIDE. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Boston  Daily  Advertiser: 

During  the  past  four  or  five  years  much  has  been  written  and  said  in  regard  to  the  effects  of  east-iron 
used  in  the  construction  of  stoves  and  furnaces.  Cast-iron,  it  has  been  said,  allows  poisonous  gases  (carbonic 
oxide,  carburetted  hydrogen,  sulphur  compounds,  etc.)  to  pass  freely  through  its  pores,  even  at  temperatures 
below  redness.  Wrought-iron  was  claimed  to  be  free  from  this  objection. 

Certain  experiments  made  under  the  direction  of  the  French  Academy  have  been  quoted  in  proof  of  these 
statements,  but  have  been  so  exaggerated,  either  by  ignorance  or  from  selfish  motives,  that  there  is  a great 
misapprehension  on  the  part  of  the  public  in  regard  to  the  real  facts  of  the  case. 

Furnaces  and  stoves  have  been  invented,  claiming  to  obviate  the  difficulties  alleged,  and  recently  the 
matter  was  brought  before  a scientific  body  in  this  city,  where  the  great  dangers  said  to  arise  from  the  use  of 
cast-iron  were  freely  discussed. 

These  dangers  have  been  greatly  exaggerated  and  overrated.  What  are  the  facts?  In  1863-64  Deville  and 
Treost,  at  Paris,  discovered  that  various  metals — platinum,  iron,  etc. — were  permeable  to  gases  at  a bright  red 
heat;  this  permeability  was  only  slight,  for  after  several  hours  traces  only  of  certain  gases  found  their  way 
through.  l)r.  Carrett,  in  1865,  and  Gen.  Morin,  in  1868,  brought  their  experiments  to  the  notice  of  the  French 
Academy,  and  suggested  the  appointing  of  a commission  of  scientific  men  to  report  upon  the  extent  to  which 
cast-iron  stoves  were  detrimental  to  the  public  health.  At  the  same  time  Gen.  Morin  presented  the  results  of 
several  experiments,  upon  which  all  of  the  cry  against  cast-iron  has  been  based.  These  experiments  were 
made  with  soft  coal  (which,  as  is  well  known,  yields  more  gaseous  products  than  anthracite,)  and  stoves  of 
cast-iron  only  one-tenth  of  an  inch  thick.  The  stoves  were  heated  to  a red  heat,  yet  in  the  concluding  experi- 
ment, lasting  twenty-seven  hours,  there  was  produced  in  the  250  liters  of  air  in  a close  vessel  surrounding  the 
stoves  about  of  a liter  of  carbonic  oxide,  or  only  one  part  of  this  poisonous  gas  in  6,000  parts  of  the  con- 
fined air.  Had  the  gas  produced  in  twenty-seven  hours  escaped  into  a room  of  1,000  cubic  feet  capacity — a 
room  without  the  slightest  ventilation  — there  would  have  been  found  in  625,000  parts  of  air  only  one  part  of 
carbonic  oxide.  If  such  a room  were  ventilated,  is  it  possible  that  the  air  at  any  given  time  would  have  been 
poisonous?  Even  this  small  quantity  of  carbonic  oxide  did  not  pass  through  the  cast-iron,  for  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  it  was  developed  on  its  outer  surface,  as  the  subsequent  report  of  the  commission  shows.  A commis- 
sion was  appointed  to  fully  investigate  the  matter.  Among  its  members  were  Fretny,  Payen,  St.Clair,  Deville 
and  Gen.  Morin,  and  after  a series  of  experiments  lasting  more  than  a year,  a full  report  was  made.  No  one 
of  those  who  have  said  so  much  against  cast-iron  seems  to  have  given  this  report  any  notice.  It  is  contained 
in  the  Comptes  Rendus,  May  3,  1869.  After  detailing  at  considerable  length  their  various  experiments  and 
methods  showing  the  production  of  carbonic  oxide  in  small  quantities,  under  certain  circumstances,  by  stoves 
of  either  wrought  or  cast-iron,  they  report: 

The  results  indicated  above  are  produced  only  when  the  metal  is  brought  to  a red  heat. 

The  most  immediate  effects  are  those  due  to  the  direct  radiation  of  these  surfaces,  and  in  this  respect 
there  is  no  difference  between  wrought  and  cast-iron. 

The  report  further  shows  that  carbonic  oxide  is  produced  mainly  by  the  following  causes  : 

I.  The  direct  action  of  the  air  upon  the  carbon  in  the  iron  heated  to  redness. 

II.  The  decomposition  of  the  carbonic  acid  in  the  air  by  its  contact  with  the  metal  heated  to  redness. 

III.  The  influence  of  dust  and  organic  matters  naturally  contained  in  the  air. 

The  commission  further  report  that  a development  of  carbonic  oxide  may  take  place  from  wrought-iron 
stoves  brought  to  a red  heat,  and  they  close  with  the  statement : 

By  lining  stoves  with  fire-brick  or  clay  all  the  inconveniences  noted  may  be  avoided. 

It  is  far  from  my  purpose  to  underrate  the  great  importance  of  having  the  air  of  our  houses  as  pure  as 
possible,  and  of  avoiding  the  slightest  presence  of  carbonic  oxide  or  other  dangerous  gases,  but  it  seems  to  me 
very  wrong  that  sensational  stories  should  be  circulated  in  the  name  of  science,  and  facts  exaggerated,  causing 
unnecessary  alarm  in  regard  to  matters  of  great  interest  to  the  public. 

Our  stoves  and  furnaces  too  often  emit  dangerous  gases,  but  it  is  not  the  cast-iron  “ permeated  by  these 
gases  at  every  pore”  that  is  at  fault;  it  is  the  red-hot  surfaces  acting  upon  the  air  itself;  the  imperfect 
dampers;  the  dust  in  the  air.  Let  us  hope  we  may  hear  no  more  of  this  great  scare  about  poisonous  gases 
coming  through  the  pores  of  cast-iron  in  a furnace  an  inch  thick.  Respectfully, 

No.  8 Bovlston  St.,  Boston,  June  6.  James  F.  Babcock. 


OPINION  OF  A WELL  KNOWN  SCIENTIST. 

Prof.  Ivedzie,  of  the  Michigan  Board  of  Health,  contradicts  the  notion  that  has  been  so  industriously  cir- 
culated of  late  years  that  gas  will  not  escape  through  the  walls  of  wrought-iron  furnaces.  It  will  not  penetrate 
them  as  readily  as  cast-iron,  but  will  pass  through  if  highly  heated.  Cast-iron  furnaces  are  good  enough  if 
large  enough,  so  as  to  furnish  sufficient  warmth  without  being  overheated,  if  the  joints  are  well  closed  with 
cement,  and  if  no  dampers  are  allowed  in  the  pipe  to  obstruct  the  passage  of  the  gas  into  the  chimney.  More- 
over, cast-iron  radiates  heat  better  than  wrought-iron. 


Ihe  RU11AN  TUBULAR  CAST-IRON  FURNACE,  as  manufactured  previous  to  1885.  The  above  is  a correct  representation  of  the  Ruttan  Tubular 
Masonry  Furnace,  as  shown  before  brick  case  is  put  around  it.  Our  No.  7 is  10  feet  long,  6 feet  high,  and  31  feet  wide,  and  weighs  about  5,000  pounds.'" 


124 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


THE  TUBULAR  CAST-IRON  MASONRY  FURNACE,  WITH  BRICK  CASE  ON  FRONT,  REAR,  TOP  AND  ONE  SIDE— Seven  sizes. 


SMOKE 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y 


I9r> 


INTERIOR  VIEW  OF  THE  TUBULAR  MASONRY  FURNACE -Seven  Size 


12G 


NORTHCOTT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  Y. 


The  cut  ou  this  page  represents  the  New  Joint  introduced  in  the  manut  icture  of 
our  No.  8 furnace. 

We  have  also  changed  the  patterns,  and  the  same  joint  will  be  used  in  the 
Ruttan-Smead  Tubular  Furnace.  This  is  a great  improvement  over  the  old, 
and  is  the  most  perfect  joint  made. 


CAUTION 


WE  are  constantly  being  informed  of  instances  where  the  Rlttan 
System  of  Ventilation,  WITH  OUR  IMPROVEMENTS,  has  been 
introduced  by  parties  either  representing  themselves  as  our  agents,  or  that 
we  have  no  patents  to  protect  our  rights.  We  are  charged  with  the  failure 
to  warm  buildings  of  which  we  know  nothing  until  we  hear  the  reports  so 
detrimental  to  our  interests. 

So  far  as  we  are  able  to  learn,  these  reports  are  started  and  circulated 
by  those  having  cheap,  light  furnaces,  and  no  system  of  ventilation.  Mr. 
Ruttan  was  paid  several  thousand  dollars  for  his  patents,  and  many  thou- 
sands more  have  been  expended  to  perfect  the  system.  Patents  have  been 
granted  for  our  improvements,  and  WE  SHALL  COLLECT  A ROYALTY 
WHENEVER  THEY  ARE  USED. 

Any  parties  now  using  (without  our  consent),  or  desiring  to  use,  the 
above-mentioned  systems  of  ventilation,  must  correspond  directly  with  us 
as  we  have  no  agents. 


GUARANTEE. 


All  contracts  made  by  us  contain  the  following  guarantee,  to  wit: 

“ We  hereby  guarantee  that  the  said  furnace(s)  shall,  with  good  care 

warm  the rooms  of  said  building  to  an  average 

temperature  of  from  65°  to  70°  Fahrenheit  during  the  coldest  weather,  and  at  the  same  time  secure  good  ventilation  in  all  rooms 
warmed.  Provided  the  furnace(s)  do(es)  not  fill  the  above  guarantee,  we  agree  to  refund  all  money  paid  us,  also  money  paid  for 
freight  and  mason  work,  and  remove  the  furnace(s)  from  the  building.” 


N0RT1IC0TT  & STINE,  ELMIRA,  N.  V. 


127 


TO  SCHOOL  DIRECTORS. 


I F you  are  intending  to  buy  wanning  and  ventilating  apparatus  for  new  or  old  buildings,  it  will 
I pay  you  to  correspond  with  us  before  buying  elsewhere.  When  desired,  we  will  send  an 
expert  to  examine  buildings  and  make  plans  and  estimates  free  of  charge.  Our  specialty,  above 
everything  else,  is  Warming  and  Ventilating  School  Buildings,  of  which  our  firms  do 
more  than  any  other  five  firms  in  this  country.  When  a new  building  is  to  be  erected  do 
not  delay  the  decision  of  how  you  will  warm  and  ventilate  it  until  contracts  for  building  arc  let. 
Changes  may  be  necessary  and  expensive. 

Please  notice  in  the  foregoing  pages,  that  the  class  of  school  buildings  in  which  our  work  is 
to  be  found,  is  unsurpassed  in  this  or  any  other  nation  of  the  world.  This  is  unquestionably  true; 
and  the  system  of  warming  and  ventilating  is  worthy  of  the  buildings.  Where  Boards  of  Educa- 
tion are  desirous  of  investigating  our  system,  we  are  ever  happy  to  take  them  to  various  cities 
where  our  work  is  in  use,  and  explain  its  actual  working  to  them  in  every  way.  It  is  always 
more  satisfactory  to  our  customers  and  ourselves.  They  will  then  understand  how  much  larger, 
heavier  and  more  durable  our  apparatus  is  than  any  other.  It  is  especially  desired,  on  our 
part,  that  members  of  Boards  go  with  us  and  fully  examine  our  Dry  Closet  System. 

If  the  ventilation  of  any  of  your  buildings  is  not  good,  we  shall  be  glad  to  correspond  with 
you  concerning  the  matter.  Inquiries  regarding  any  of  these  matters  will  receive  prompt  atten- 
tion. Connected  with  each  office  are  experts  who  have  made  warming  and  ventilating  their 
study  for  many  years.  Our  system  and  methods  are  uniform  throughout  our  various  houses, 
and  an  opinion  on  these  points  from  any  one  of  them,  after  a careful  examination  of  the  build- 
ing, or  the  plans,  we  believe  will  be  found  as  nearly  correct  as  can  be  obtained.  It  is  our  sole 
business.  We  do  not  claim  to  be  architects  or  doctors,  but  we  do  claim  that  we  can  design 
a plan  that  will  take  out  the  impure  air  and  supply  your  buildings  with  pure,  fresh  air, 
warmed  to  a proper  temperature.  No  firm  in  America  can  show  work  equal  in  quality  to  that 
done  by  any  of  our  Ruttan  Companies  : Ruttan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chicago  ; Ruttan  Ven- 
tilating and  Heating  Co.,  Kansas  City;  Ruttan-Smead  Heating  and  Ventilating  Co.,  Toledo; 
and  Ruttan-Smead  Warming  and  Ventilating  Co.,  Elmira,  N.  Y. 

Remember  that  our  Ruttan  System  of  Ventilation  is  the  only  thoroughly  successful  one  in 
use,  and  that  it  is  rapidly  taking  the  place  of  all  others ; and  remember  that  the  Ruttan- 
Smead  Tubular  Furnaces  are  very  much  heavier  and  more  durable  than  any  other  in  the 
market,  their  weight  -being  from  one  thousand  five  hundred  pounds  to  five  thousand  eight 
hundred  pounds  each. 

Ours  is  not  a “hot  air”  apparatus.  We  take  into  the  rooms  a large  volume  of  moderately 
warmed  air,  iustead  of  a small  quantity  intensely  heated. 

Our  apparatus  is  largely  used  in  churches,  court  houses,  jails,  insane  asylums,  alms 
houses,  opera  houses,  store  buildings  and  dwellings.  We  will  always,  when  it  is  de- 
sired, send  a reference  list  on  any  of  our  work,  so  that  inquiry  may  be  made  of  parties  having 
our  apparatus  in  use.  Trusting  that  you  have  found  points  of  interest  in  reading  the  foregoing 
pages,  and  that  it  may  lead  to  further  investigation  and  to  correspondence  with  us, we  are, 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

NORTHCOTT  & STINE, 


ELM  IRA,*  N.  Y. 





